Rescuing CA Seals and Sea Lions
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny
Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna
Beach, CA, has rescued sick and injured seals and sea lions for fifty years.
Started in 1971 by lifeguards Jim Stauffer and John
Cunningham and veterinarian Rose Ekeberg, the center was originally in
Stauffer's home and had two patients – a seal and a sea lion found on the beach.
By 1976 the center moved to larger digs in an unused barn on
Laguna Canyon Road that was owned by the city.
With the help of volunteers, the center has evolved into a
state-of-the-art medical, education and research facility that's rescued more
than 10,000 marine mammals (including sea turtles and dolphins).
Laguna Beach students have gotten on board at the center,
too, helping to treat and care for the mammals, while getting hands-on
experience for their marine science classes.
Each year more than 50,000 visitors come by the center to
see its marine patients and participate in nature programs.
Promoting and teaching conservation is one of the center's
priorities. Its visitor area, habitat, butterfly garden, and adjacent creek are
designated a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Foundation.
From its modest start, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center has
grown into a place that has helped so many. Not just the animals it saves, but
the people who have been given a place to come together, to learn, and to give
back to the community.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti
Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications
wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com
Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites
as long as credit is given.
