Rescue Stories: Vote for Your Favorite Marine Mammal Patient of 2025!
Thanks to caring people like you, countless marine mammals were rescued in 2025. Now it’s time to recognize some of the most memorable animal rescue stories.
You can help choose our Patient of the Year for 2025 from this list of six animals that left a lasting impression. Cast your vote by Saturday, January 31 to be part of the final decision. We’ll announce our 2025 Patient of the Year in our February e-newsletter. Sign up for email to get the results delivered straight to your inbox!
Adopt Your Favorite!
Want to show your favorite patients even more love? You can symbolically adopt a former marine mammal patient to help support the life-saving care for the next sick or injured animal.
Thank you for giving our marine mammal patients a second chance at life—none of this conservation work would be possible without you!
Baxter - California Sea Lion
Rescued: July 29, 2025
Released: August 20, 2025
Diagnosis: Malnutrition, leptospirosis
This year, our staff and volunteers treated more patients with leptospirosis than ever before. Leptospirosis is a bacterial kidney disease that can be fatal if left untreated. California sea lion Baxter came into our care with all the tell-tale signs: drinking water, flippers tucked against his belly and malnourished. He also had a fishing hook, line and lure lodged in his mouth.
Baxter was in bad shape. First, our expert veterinary team removed the hook and line so Baxter could eat. Then they prescribed him medications and a herring diet. After two months, Baxter recovered and received a second chance at life in his ocean home.
Our scientists continually learn about leptospirosis by treating patients like Baxter. These cases help us better understand what causes an outbreak, how we can improve treatment for infected animals and how to protect humans as well.
Elefante - Northern Elephant Seal
Rescued: May 13, 2025
Released: August 29, 2025
Diagnosis: Malnutrition
Northern elephant seal Elefante was in poor condition when he was rescued from a beach in Central California. Our trained responders reported Elefante was thin yet alert and found with tar and wounds on his body.
Because of his age and size, our veterinarians tube fed Elefante with a special “fish smoothie” formula until he was ready for fish school. In fish school, specially trained volunteers used techniques like dragging fish through the water to encourage Elefante’s natural instincts to track, catch and compete for fish. He spent about three months at our hospital rehabilitating and gaining strength.
Before Elefante was released, our experts fitted him with a special satellite tag to track his movements once he was back in the wild.
Doodle - Northern Fur Seal
Rescued: September 21, 2025
Released: December 18, 2025
Diagnosis: Malnutrition, maternal separation, anemia
Northern fur seal pup Doodle was first found by the police in a marina. No, she was not breaking the law, but she was certainly in trouble! Doodle was weak and starving after separating from her mother too soon.
At our hospital, trained animal care experts used a special tube-feeding technique to help Doodle gain weight and strength. It wasn’t long before Doodle learned how to catch and eat fish on her own, swim with her pen mates and groom her fur coat. All three signs showed that Doodle was improving.
After three months of dedicated care, Doodle was ready to go home. She was released with a second chance right before the holidays.
Channels - Pacific Harbor Seal
Rescued: March 4, 2025
Released: May 31, 2025
Diagnosis: Malnutrition
Pacific harbor seals are often among our first patients of the year, some so young their umbilical cords are still attached. Channels was one of them — skinny, orphaned and rescued just in time.
Despite the odds stacked against her, Channels showed off her expert swimming and diving skills as soon as she moved into her pen. Our animal care experts fed her a special formula gently through a tube to ensure she got vital nutrients. As Channels grew stronger, she began fish school lessons where specially trained volunteers used tactics such as dragging fish on a string through the water to encourage her instinct to chase prey.
After months of care, Channels learned critical survival skills and recovered. Our experts determined that Channels was ready for life in the wild, and she returned to her ocean home.
Denise - Guadalupe Fur Seal
Rescued: January 21, 2025
Released: April 18, 2025
Diagnosis: Malnutrition, maternal separation, pneumonia
Life was uncertain for Guadalupe fur seal Denise when she stranded on the beach after becoming separated from her mother too soon. As a species that lives in the open ocean year-round, Guadalupe fur seals like Denise rarely come to shore unless they are sick or injured. When our trained responders found this tiny, orphaned pup, she looked skinny and malnourished.
Once at our hospital, veterinarians did a thorough admit exam and discovered she was also suffering from pneumonia. Denise received a specialized treatment plan and nutritious “fish smoothies” to help her become healthy again.
During three months in care, Denise gained a healthy amount of weight, and her fur coat grew thick. Once she received a clean bill of health, Denise was released back to her ocean home — a major win for this threatened species.
Mooring – Southern Sea Otter
Rescued: January 3, 2025
Released: February 19, 2025
Diagnosis: Malnutrition, trauma, human interaction
Mooring, a southern sea otter, was caught in a life-threatening entanglement. She was found with mooring rope (used to secure boats) wrapped around her small body. With support from our partners, Mooring was brought to our hospital for life-saving care.
First, our trained veterinarians carefully removed the rope. Then they treated a large wound on her left flipper. Mooring continued to recover in a safe, specialized otter tote designed with a controlled environment for healing, including a haul-out area and pool. She was fed a hearty diet of crustaceans and received enrichment activities such as imitation kelp and “shrimp-cicles” to encourage foraging.
Mooring is now swimming free in her ocean home. Since her release, Mooring has been resighted in her natural habitat looking healthy and surrounded by other sea otters.
Patient images © The Marine Mammal Center / NOAA permit #24359 / USFWS permit MA101713-1
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