News Detail

It is with a heavy heart that the Oceans of Fun animal care team announces the loss of our rescued male California sea lion, Nalu.  Nalu was found at three months of age stranded on the pacific coast and was extremely malnourished and dehydrated.  Being so young and still of nursing age, Nalu was deemed non-releasable by the National Marine Fisheries and would need to find a placement.  Oceans of Fun was then contacted and gladly accepted their request to provide a permanent home to the orphaned sea lion pup.

Rescuing stranded animals and giving them a second chance at life is part of the conservation efforts accredited marine mammal facilities like Oceans of Fun are dedicated to.  Life in the wild is harsh and there is so much we do not know about these animals including their history, why they stranded, or their exposure to toxins like Domoic Acid.  Unfortunately, we have seen so many pups strand with Domoic Acid exposure which, while unrecognizable, proves to be fatal within the first few years of life.  Preliminary tests are leading to exposure to toxins early in life as this week Nalu’s neurological system failed.  Part of conservation is research and so we will continue to learn about the status of our oceans from the loss of animals unable to survive its dangers.

For all of us at Oceans, who gave so much to this special little pup, this is a tremendous loss. Nalu won all of our hearts with his gentle, lovable personality. While we didn’t understand his early challenges in the wild, he enjoyed a wonderful life with us thriving with his pinniped friends and loving every interaction with his trainers. He will forever hold a very special place in our hearts and his story will continue to educate on the dangers marine mammals are facing today.  With sad hearts we give a final kiss on the nose to this wonderful little sea lion who inspired us all.