NewsLocal News

Actions

Sea lion rescued from Central Coast released back into wild after treatment

Posted at 7:34 PM, Dec 27, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-27 22:34:19-05

A California sea lion that was rescued at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Area in October is now back in the wild.

Responders from Morro Bay’s Marine Mammal Triage Center rescued the sea lion, who is named Wazowski, on October 30.

Wazowski sea lion
Photo Credit: Bill Hunnewell of The Marine Mammal Center

 

 

He stayed at the center for one night but was then transferred up to the Marine Mammal Center’s hospital in Sausalito to be treated for malnutrition and pneumonia.

On Thursday, Wazowski and another male California sea lion named Spruce were released back into the wild.

Spruce had a potentially deadly bacterial infection called leptospirosis. He was one of about 300 sea lions that had been treated for the infection at the Marine Mammal Center.

Wazowski and Spruce sea lions
Photo Credit: Michael Hanrahan of The Marine Mammal Center

 

Volunteers watched as the two were released at Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Marine Mammal Center or making a donation, click here.