Sea Lion Pups Rescued and Released in Southern California

Last month, a group of sea lion pups in Southern California was discovered in poor health, malnourished and struggling. Thankfully, animal rescues stepped in to help them, and recently, they were returned to the ocean.

A crowd gathered in Manhattan Beach on Friday, including Mayor Joe Franklin, for a heartwarming event to celebrate the release of three sea lions named Tortellini, Rotini, and Cavatappi.

Videos and photos captured the pups as they were let out of their boxes, waddling down the sand toward the water while onlookers cheered and celebrated their return.

In one clip, a sea lion can be seen looking far more robust and energetic as it glided through the waves, a stark contrast to its earlier condition when it washed ashore in April.

Tortellini, one of the female pups, was rescued at Dockweiler State Beach on April 12. She was severely underweight, and images from her rescue showed her spine visible beneath her fur.

During her initial health examination, veterinarians noted swelling in her jaw and discharge from her eyes. Fortunately, after treatment with anti-inflammatory medication and supplements for her vision, her eye infection improved.

Care workers also prepared a special fish mixture to feed her through a tube, and she soon progressed to eating whole fish. “After six weeks of care, all her eye issues were resolved, and she nearly doubled her weight,” officials stated, marking her readiness to return to the wild.

Another female pup, Rotini, was similarly rescued in April after a beach cleaner found her in poor condition as well. Like Tortellini, she was both underweight and dehydrated. After tube-feeding her fish mixtures, she too regained her strength and was cleared for release.

Then there was Cavatappi, a male pup found in El Segundo. He, too, needed help for dehydration and malnourishment. Under care, he rapidly gained weight and size, making him ready to head back to his ocean habitat.

All three pups were rehabilitated at the Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC), which is notable as Los Angeles’ only year-round marine mammal rehab facility.

The MMCC claims to rescue more marine mammals along the coastline than any other organization across the United States.