Skinny California Sea Lion Pup

The following story about California sea lion was shared with us by the Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles.

On January 1, 2022, Marine Mammal Care Center received its first patient of the year. A skinny and lethargic California sea lion pup from Will Rogers beach.

She only weighed 10 kilograms (about 22 pounds) and was severely malnourished and dehydrated. During her admission exam she was given an oral solution of EmerAid IC Piscivore through gavage feeding.

EmerAid IC Piscivore is MMCCLA hospital’s standard for initial nutritional supplementation. It provides easy-to-digest nutrients, which is important for animals who have gone through a period of starvation.

The sea lion was kept on EmerAid for the first two feedings for stabilization. The next day she transitioned to a blended fish diet, where she also started eating whole fish on her own. She continued to eat well and put on weight.

She was released on June 8, 2022, weighing 35.2 kilograms (about 77.6 pounds).