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| Species: |
Northern elephant seal |
| Rescue Date: |
March 4, 2003 |
| Rescue Location: |
Balboa Pier, Newport Beach, CA |
| Rescue Weight: |
70 pounds |
| Rescue Length: |
52 inches |
| Sex: |
Female |
| Approx. Rescue Age: |
1-2 months |
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Little Dipper, shown in the picture above, is Big Dipper's namesake.
Little Dipper is also a Northern elephant seal that was rescued by the
center in late Februrary. We estimated his age at 2 years. Little Dipper
came in with severe dehydration and skin condition common to elephant seals.
"Little" Dipper's rescue weight was a light 212 pounds, where Big Dipper
came in at only 70 pounds. So it is questionable who is Big and who is
Little!
Little Dipper was released back to the wild on March 24th, approximately
70 pounds heavier.
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Big Dipper
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Big Dipper welcomed the start of elephant seal season at FSL Marine Mammal Center. Northern elephant seal
pups are normally born and weaned in January and February. The pups that run into trouble tend to show
up at our center in early March and April. Big Dipper had symptoms that we see in many of our patients,
malnourished and very dehydrated. This indicates that she was not getting the proper
nutrition she needed.
Once at the center, we immediately started Big Dipper on a feeding schedule that will
rehydrate her and give her the nutrients she needs. Her first feedings consist of an electrolyte, vitamin and fluid
mixture. Gradually, rich multi-milk and fish pieces were added to her formula feedings.
We keep a close watch to make sure the animals stay warm. These animals dissipate heat though their
flippers and the severly underweight animals have trouble with heat loss. We can check the temperature of their flippers to tell if the animal is too cold. We have pens
at the center equiped with heat lamps that can quickly warm up an animal that is losing heat too fast.
Currently, Big Dipper is taking fish by hand. We inject water into her fish meals to ensure
that she still gets the hydration she needs. In the wild, elephant seals do not drink water to stay hydrated.
They get the water they need while feeding from the fish they eat and the water they gulp catching fish.
Soon, Big Dipper will be going through fish school. This is a technique we use when feeding to teach the seals to
search for fish in the water. Graduation from fish comes once the animal is able to
dive and search for their food without any assistance from us.
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