California sea lion
elephant seal
The greatest number of stranded pups found are those found by people on the
beach. They call the center and a rescue team goes to check it- weather the seal is
really alone? Is it really stranded? Starving? When the rescue team arrives at the
location, first they observe to see if there isn’t a mom around (if you touch them and
the mother comes back, she will abandon the seal for having our smell, so be
careful!) Once they realize the pup is alone, stranded, thin and hungry, they collect it
to the center, do a physical examination and evaluation of their status and
immediately start to treat them. This is the daily routine at PMMC. The PMMC has a
veterinary department, led by Dr. Evans. And his younger co-veterinarian.
The experience was very educating on the medical level, enriching in a field I don't
have the opportunity to practice in my home country and very emotional as you get
to see the animals at different stages of their medical status and luckily attend the
overwhelming release of healthy animals to the ocean. Seeing them rushing vitally
back to their freedom reminded me every time why I chose this profession although
the hard demanding work.