Sea lions go to Washington

Two rescued pups will find new homes at the Smithsonian National Zoo.The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is preparing to take two hand-reared California sea lion pups to a permanent home at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on March 5.

Generally, when pups are successfully rehabilitated, they are released to the wild, the center’s staff said.

“Because these animals required hand-rearing [bottle feeding], they have become dependent on humans and are deemed ‘unreleasable’ by National Marine Fisheries Service,” said Michele Hunter, the center’s director of operations and animal care.

Summer, the older of the two pups, was born and abandoned by her mother on June 17.

Pacific Marine Mammal Center received a report about a newborn sea lion pup that was under 24-hour watch in Malibu. The female sea lion had given birth early in the morning but did not nurse or tend to the pup, and left her that afternoon.

The California Wildlife Center in Malibu monitored the pup until the following afternoon and informed National Marine Fisheries Services that the mother never returned.

Although Malibu is outside its usual territory, Pacific Marine Mammal Center agreed to accept the pup, since the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur -- Los Angeles County’s marine mammal rescue center -- was inundated with animals and did not have room to care for a newborn animal.

When Summer arrived at the center, she was a day old, weighed 15 pounds, and was 27 inches long.

Calli, the other pup, was born a week later. On June 24, Animal Care Supervisor Dean Gomersall responded to a routine rescue call at Little Corona beach.

“When I got to the beach with my rescue crew, I was surprised at the amount of attention this animal was getting,” Gomersall said. “When I got closer, the reason became obvious -- a female sea lion had just given birth on the beach.”

Both the mother and the newborn pup were taken back to the center. The female made no effort to tend to her offspring and a short time later began exhibiting seizure activity, signifying that she was likely suffering from domoic acid poisoning.

Over the next hour, the seizures intensified and it became clear that she would not be able to care for her newborn. Calli’s mother did not survive, and the center’s staff was responsible for around-the-clock care of the pup. Calli weighed 14 pounds and was 28 inches at birth.

Both pups are now healthy, weaned from their bottles, and eating fish on their own. Summer weighs 57 pounds and Calli 52.

“We are thrilled that the pups are going to have a permanent home at the National Zoo. I know they will both thrive there,” Hunter said.

“Of course, I will miss them greatly. Usually we have a hands-off policy with the animals, and with the close contact and long hours we have spent, these pups have really worked their way into our hearts.”

Hunter will accompany the pups on their journey to Washington, as will Kirsten Sedlick, animal care supervisor. Pilot Jim Slavik and co-pilot Chris Granger donated the transportation.

Pacific Marine Mammal Center is in the large red barn at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road. The center and gift shop are open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Information: (949) 494-3050 or www.pacificmmc.org.20060217iur92bncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Summer the sea lion pup enjoys some hose water as her buddy Cali swims in the pool behind her at the Friends of the Sea Lions center in Laguna.