A sea lion pup, looking quite unwell, found its way onto a family’s boat near San Clemente before being escorted to safety by animal rescuers.
On January 24, the malnourished pup swam onto the yacht of Matthew Miller while he spent time with his 11-year-old daughter, Ellie.
Miller noticed something was off when the sea lion jumped off the swim step only to quickly return. Concerned, they reached out to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center for help.
After looking over some photos, rescue teams indicated that the pup was indeed underweight and displaying unusual behavior, according to a recent update from the center.
Miller described the young animal as “frail” and noted how calm it was, spending around half an hour with them on their boat.
When they arrived at Dana Point Harbor, the exhausted pup was promptly rescued with help from local Harbor Patrol. At the Marine Center hospital, he weighed a mere 39 pounds and was found to be battling malnutrition and pneumonia.
Ellie had the delightful responsibility of naming the sea lion, and she chose “Chump.” Veterinarians and volunteers are closely monitoring Chump’s recovery, administering treatment for his pneumonia and providing three nutritious meals daily to help restore his health.
The Marine Center expressed gratitude for the care Chump is receiving, mentioning that they welcomed the Miller family for a private tour during his recovery.
Miller remarked on the positive changes he’s observed, saying, “I can see him getting back on his feet. He’s happy. He’s fine. He’s healthy. He’s got a girlfriend. It’s like Happy Valentine’s Day, Champ.”
