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Found with his flippers tucked tightly against his body, California sea lion Pockets looked like a sick child with a bellyache.

Pockets was battling a potentially fatal bacterial disease, leptospirosis. We've rescued nearly 500 sea lions affected by this year's intense outbreak.

With your matched gift, you’ll not only help provide the meals and advanced medical care needed to help a sea lion like Pockets recover, but also support our researchers in learning more about this disease.

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California sea lion

Featured News

Sea otter and pup

Watch a Sea Otter Pup Reunite With Its Mother

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A Hawaiian monk seal rests on its side on a sandy beach.

Where Do Hawaiian Monk Seals Live? And Other ‘Īlio Holo I Ka Uaua Trivia

News Update
California sea lion

LA Times: Marine mammals are dying in record numbers along the California coast

In the News
Northern elephant seal

The New York Times: Scientists Begin Testing Bird Flu Vaccine in Seals

In the News
Four harbor seals with small ID tags on their heads swim in a rehabilitation pool.

How Our Patients are Named and Identified

Patient Update
Gray whale fluke above the water

Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet

In the News
Northern elephant seal and pup

The New York Times: Racing to Save California’s Elephant Seals From Bird Flu

In the News
a dead gray whale in the water with birds flying above

NBC News: Six dead gray whales found in San Francisco Bay area in the last week

In the News
An An elephant seal’s face with long black whiskers and wide eyes emerges from the water.

Adaptations of the Deep: Seal Whiskers and Eyes

Patient Update
two elephant seal pups in a pool

But Why: What’s a seal? What’s a sea lion?

In the News
Four young California sea lions walk on the beach toward the ocean.

Achievements in Ocean Health

News Update

Your Guide to Seeing Harbor Seal Pups in California

News Update
A California sea lion jumps out of the ocean next to a humpback whale showing its tail and another whale showing its back.

What is the Loudest Animal on Earth? And Other Animal Trivia

News Update
A California sea lion with a small satellite tag on its back walks on a rocky beach toward the ocean.

From Treating Sick Sea Lions to Tracking Them in the Wild: Follow Autumn

Patient Update
An entangled California sea lion with a netting material around its neck.

What it Takes to Rescue an Entangled Sea Lion

News Update
experts examining stranded pygmy sperm whale

KMPH: Dead pygmy sperm whale washes ashore at Pismo Beach

In the News
A Guadalupe fur seal floats in the water with its flippers raised.

Your Visual Guide to Sea Lion and Seal Behavior

News Update
Sloopy – Guadalupe fur seal

Rescue Stories: Vote for Your Favorite Marine Mammal Patient of 2024!

News Update
A Pacific harbor seal moves into the ocean.

From Rescue to Release: Marine Mammal Patients Seen Thriving in the Wild

Patient Update
A sedated northern elephant seal on the beach with a wound on its neck.

Life-Saving Disentanglement Frees Northern Elephant Seal Liddie from Ocean Trash

Patient Update
A northern elephant seal with a satellite tag on its head on the beach in front of crashing waves.

Studying Elephant Seals of the Central California Coast

News Update
plastic pollution floating in the ocean

NBC Bay Area: Plastic pollution causing a sea of trouble

In the News
A gray whale’s head rises above the ocean surface with its mouth open showing baleen.

What Do Whales Eat? And Other Foodie Trivia

News Update
A family visiting The Marine Mammal Center looks at marine science exhibits and holds an animal skull.

Fun Things to Do in the Bay Area This Fall and Winter

News Update
Beach coastline with waves and sea foam from algae bloom in water California

The New Lede: Algae bloom kills hundreds of sea lions off California

In the News
humpback whale feeding on fish in water

Bay Nature: The Backstory on Pacifica’s Whale Bonanza

In the News
A student stands behind an education table near images of marine mammals, talking to three children and one adult.

Why Should We Talk About Climate Change?

News Update
view of Palos Verdes coastline

Newsweek: Toxic Contamination in Our Oceans Can Reach Our Kitchen Tables | Opinion

In the News
Hawaiian monk seal pup in care at the marine mammal center

Ke Kai Ola Kaiāulu Fest: Seal-abrating a Decade of Ocean Conservation

Press Release
Hawaiian monk seal pups in care at the marine mammal center

Three Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Pups Admitted to Ke Kai Ola, a Dedicated Hospital for Monk Seals on Hawai‘i Island

Press Release
California sea lions swimming

Sentinels of the Sea Podcast

News Update
humpback swimming under golden gate bridge with ships

San Francisco Chronicle: San Francisco Bay is Awash With Endangered Whales. Is it Good or Bad?

In the News
LA Times Front Page Domoic Acid Sea Lions

LA Times: Neurotoxin is Poisoning Large Numbers of Sea Lions

In the News
California sea lion being treated for domoic acid poisoning

NBC Nightly News: Researchers Investigate Dozens of Sick Sea Lions Along California Coast

In the News
Hawaiian monk seal in care at the marine mammal center receiving a radiograph exam

Disney Recognizes Dr. Sophie Whoriskey’s Work at The Marine Mammal Center in Hawaii to Save Monk Seals

Press Release
Hawaiian monk seal in care at the marine mammal center

Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal R8HA Receiving Life-Saving Care at The Marine Mammal Center After Rescue and Transport from Kauaʻi

Press Release
gray whales seen in the San Francisco Bay

LA Times: Why are Gray Whales and Other Marine Life Visiting San Francisco Bay?

In the News
A California sea lion with a small satellite tracking device on its back runs through the sand.

Conservation Technology: 5 Innovations In Ocean Health

News Update
gray whale tail seen above water with San Francisco skyline in the distance

Mercury News: Lots of Gray Whales Are Swimming Under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay. Why?

In the News
two dolphins leaping out of the waves

“The Dolphin Dilemma” Documentary Makes Waves On Film Festival Circuit

News Update
sea lions at PIER 39

The New York Times: 2,000 Sea Lions Roamed, Just to Make This Dock Their Home

In the News
An underwater view of a sea lion diving in the ocean.

How Fast Can Sea Lions Swim? And Other Sea Lion Trivia

News Update
sea lions at PIER 39

NPR: A Seafood Bounty Lures Sea Lions to S.F.'s PIER 39 in Numbers Not Seen in 15 Years

In the News
California sea lion Thunder

30 Percent of Patients in 2023 Experienced Some Form of Human or Dog Disturbance

Press Release
A newborn seal pup with a fluffy lanugo coat looks up.

Pupping Season Spotlight: Caring for an Orphaned Harbor Seal Pup

Patient Update
two California sea lions return to the wild

Voice of America: Sea Mammals and Ocean Health

In the News
Hawaiian monk seal RS10 is released and heads toward the water

Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Back Home on Kauaʻi After Receiving Life-Saving Care for Ingested Fishing Gear

Press Release
gray whale in shallow water

LA Times: Starvation Has Decimated Gray Whales - Can the Giants Ever Recover?

In the News
An elephant seal bull looks toward the ocean from a beach.

How Deep Do Elephant Seals Dive? And Other Ocean Trivia

News Update
two humpback whales surface while feeding

Your Visual Guide to Whale Breaching, Lunge Feeding and Other Behaviors

News Update
A humpback whale tail rises above the surface as the whale dives underwater.

How Do Whales Sleep? And Other Whale Trivia

News Update
Aerial view of two mating porpoises in San Francisco Bay

Harbor Porpoise Mating in the “Funnel of Love”

News Update
A rehabilitated elephant seal pup is in front of a mature wild elephant seal at the Chimney Rock rookery in Point Reyes, California.

When and Where to See Elephant Seals in California (and Livestream!)

News Update
california sea lion under anethesia surrounded by medical staff

Hakai Magazine: How Terrestrial Turds Lead to Marine Maladies

In the News
An adult elephant seal and two California sea lions approach the water's edge

Seal vs. Sea Lion: Your Guide to Knowing the Difference

News Update
a golden retriever lying on a sandy beach with a leash and harness

How to Keep Your Dog Safe on Beaches

News Update
A gray whale rises vertically out of the ocean as it starts to breach.

How To See the Gray Whale Migration and Help Save a Life

News Update
whale tail above the water with a ship in the distance

NBC: Cruises & Cargo Ships Regularly Break Voluntary Speed Limit Aimed at Protecting Endangered Whales

In the News
Hawaiian monk seal Meleana and her pup on the beach

Milestone Moment: Released Hawaiian Monk Seal Patients Spotted With Pups in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Press Release
Carlos Rios holding a test tube

Marine Science Careers: Meet Clinical Lab Scientist Carlos Rios

News Update

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Recent News

Sea otter and pup
News Update

Watch a Sea Otter Pup Reunite With Its Mother

November 14, 2025
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AP News: Baby sea otter is reunited with mother in central California after dramatic rescue

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harbor seal Bogey
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November 4, 2025
A Hawaiian monk seal rests on its side on a sandy beach.
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California sea lion
In the News

LA Times: Marine mammals are dying in record numbers along the California coast

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Bird Flu Vaccine Trial May Offer Hope for Protecting Hawaiian Monk Seals

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The New York Times: Scientists Begin Testing Bird Flu Vaccine in Seals

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A southern sea otter rests in the ocean after being released from rehabilitative care.
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