Vote for Your Favorite Marine Mammal to be the 2026 Calendar Cover Star!
Thanks to caring people like you, countless marine mammals receive a second chance at life every year. While these animals are in our care, we try to take a photo of each one so you can see exactly who you are helping.
As you can imagine, there are so many adorable photos to choose from for our 2026 calendar cover. So many that we need your help to pick the winning patient! You can help choose our 2026 calendar cover star from this list of three animals that have stolen our hearts.
Cast your vote by Monday, August 25 to help pick which marine mammal patient will be the cover star on our 2026 calendar. Sign up for email or text JOIN to 65179 to get the results delivered straight to you!
Thank you for giving marine mammal patients a second chance at life—none of this would be possible without you!
Choose your favorite!
Please limit to one vote per person.
Kickstart - California Sea Lion
Rescued: January 13, 2025
Released: March 5, 2025
If you saw California sea lion Kickstart upon rescue, you would’ve seen a sea lion that looked like she was wearing a coat three sizes too big. She was separated from her mom too soon and clearly not getting enough food on her own. Thankfully, in our care, Kickstart regained her strength and was soon released to her ocean home.
Denali - Pacific Harbor Seal
Rescued: April 16, 2025
Released: May 31, 2025
Harbor seal Denali was found on a pier with no mother in sight. But thanks to your kind-hearted support, this pup received life-saving care. In a matter of weeks, Denali was eating well and gaining a healthy amount of weight. In fact, he nearly doubled his body weight while in care before returning to his ocean home alongside other rehabilitated seals.
Pinnacles - Northern Elephant Seal
Rescued: March 10, 2025
Released: June 11, 2025
Despite weighing about the same as a newborn pup upon rescue, northern elephant seal Pinnacles more than doubled her weight in care. At our hospital, this resilient seal learned to catch and successfully compete for fish alongside her pen-mates. After about three months of care, Pinnacles was released back to the wild with a second chance.
No matter which past patient graces the cover, our 2026 calendar is sure to bring a smile to your face year-round with adorable marine mammal photos, inspiring stories and more. Only a limited number will be available, so pre-order your copy today so you don’t miss out!
Yes, I want to save a life!
Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/stranded-gray-whale-july-2025.jpg","alt":"stranded gray whale","title":"Scientists respond to dead gray whale in San Francisco Bay as species faces population recovery challenges","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/scientists-respond-to-dead-gray-whale-in-san-francisco-bay-as-species-faces-population-recovery-challenges","label":"Press Release","date":"2025-07-17 02:00:00"}
Scientists respond to dead gray whale in San Francisco Bay as species faces population recovery challenges
July 17, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/cropped-images\/hs-group-with-hats-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-34-0-1270-992-1750873865.jpg","alt":"Four harbor seals with small ID tags on their heads swim in a rehabilitation pool.","title":"How Our Patients are Named and Identified","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/how-our-patients-are-named-and-identified","label":"Patient Update","date":"2025-06-26 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-oreo-by-josie-slaathaug-c-the-marine-mammal-center-108-0-1270-992-1750880575.jpg","alt":"Gray whale fluke above the water","title":"Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/los-angeles-times-the-numbers-of-gray-whales-migrating-along-the-california-coast-continue-to-plummet","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-25 02:00:00"}
Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet
June 25, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor seal\/cropped-images\/harbor-seal-pup-photo-by-Ruvim-Miksanskiy-251-0-1270-992-1750880392.jpg","alt":"Harbor seal pup resting on the beach","title":"ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/abc7-san-francisco-animal-trauma-could-be-linked-to-bad-human-behavior-bay-area-marine-mammal-experts-say","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-24 02:00:00"}
ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say
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