Page 18 - Gateways_2020_SPRING

Messengers Continued
Above: Senior animal care specialists Heather
Downing and Elizabeth Lee use a whistle, called
a “bridge.” The sound of the bridge lets animals
know when they did something correctly and
signals that they will be rewarded. The days
after the sea lions first arrived at Pinniped Point help. California sea lions are protected by
was a critical time, said Mairim Martinez, senior
animal care specialist. “Coming up on deck to
eat and being comfortable near us shows they
are willing to cooperate, and this builds trust.”
18 GATEWAYS | MESSENGERS
Saving Sea Lions
Although marine mammals are facing
serious threats, the government, nonprofits,
and zoos and aquariums have stepped up to
the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act
which created the Marine Mammal Health
and Stranding Response Program. The
program coordinates emergency responses
to marine mammals that are injured, sick,
or distressed and includes networks of
stranding centers. “Stranding centers are
rehab facilities that are usually staffed
mostly by volunteers,” said Stacey. “They
rehabilitate animals and provide vet care and
nutrition.” Their goal is to be able to release government agency with jurisdiction over
animals back into the ocean.
CZS staff members have worked with
stranding-center staff, particularly the
Vet team at The Marine Mammal Center
in Sausalito, California. “Our clinical
zoological medicine residents spend a few
weeks there every year for additional training
with marine mammals,” said Dr. Adkesson.
Also, CZS’s animal care specialists have
volunteered their services when a center
became overwhelmed with animals.
After Sabiena and Carolyn were found,
they were taken to stranding centers to be
rehydrated, fed, and examined. Fishing
hooks were carefully dislodged from Sabiena’s
body and 20 to 30 rocks were removed from
Carolyn’s stomach. Wildlife officials from
the National Marine Fisheries Service—the
California sea lions—determined that both sea
lions had poor vision and would not survive