Guadalupe fur seal pups, sea lion released back into ocean by SeaWorld San Diego

Video: SeaWorld San Diego releases two Guadalupe fur seals back into ocean

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Three marine mammals found in need of help in Southern California this spring have been released back into the Pacific Ocean after a successful rehabilitation, SeaWorld San Diego has announced.

Marine rescue teams in San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles stepped in to help after two baby Guadalupe fur seals were found in Southern California in April, along with an adult California sea lion.

The marine mammals were released back into their natural ecosystems on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, by SeaWorld San Diego’s Rescue Team.

SeaWorld San Diego says on April 13, 2024, a male Guadalupe fur seal pup was found emaciated, dehydrated and lethargic on the rocks at Goff Island Beach in Laguna Beach. The pup was rescued and brought to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center weighing 13 pounds, and was transferred to SeaWorld San Diego on April 15 for continued care and rehabilitation.

Now weighing 36 pounds and able to dive and eat fish, SeaWorld noted he was ready to be released back into the ocean.

Video: SeaWorld San Diego releases fur seals rescued from Southern California

Then, in late April, a female Guadalupe fur seal pup was found injured on a dock at Cabrillo Marina in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles. SeaWorld says she was first taken to the Marine Mammal Care Center in LA for treatment of a cut on her rear flipper as well as low white blood cell count.

The seal pup was transferred to SeaWorld San Diego’s Rescue Center for continued treatment that included tube feeding in May 2024. Initially weighing only 11 pounds, the female seal pup is now 46 pounds and is able to be released back into the ocean, SeaWorld says.

Once nearly extinct, Guadalupe fur seals are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The marine mammals can be found in the waters off southern California and the Pacific coast of Mexico, according to NOAA. Their breeding grounds are on Guadalupe Island, Mexico, although there are some small populations off Baja California on San Benito Archipelago and off southern California at San Miguel Island.

In addition to the two Guadalupe fur seal pups, SeaWorld San Diego also released an adult female California sea lion back into the ocean from a SeaWorld San Diego Rescue Boat.

Video: SeaWorld releases California sea lion back into ocean

NOAA Fisheries and its partners work to conserve and promote the recovery of the Guadalupe fur seal population.

Learn more about SeaWorld San Diego’s animal rescue, rehabilitation and return efforts online at seaworld.com .

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