Liberty, a painfully thin California sea lion, was rescued from Newport Beach on May 26
weighing only 19 pounds. Birth weight for a California sea lion is about 15 to 20
pounds and Liberty was dangerously emaciated at almost a year old.
The first weeks were critical. She was quarantined upstairs in a temperature
controlled room to maintain her temperature and make sure that she, with her
incredibly weakened immune system, was not subjected to any additional stressors.
She was suffering from pneumonia and animal care staff administered breathing
treatments four times a day.
After two weeks, she was moved down to the nursery and began standing up on her
flippers and “walking” around which was an accomplishment on her part!
Liberty was truly a fighter and started to eat fish on her own the following day.
She is up to 48 pounds but has quite a few more pounds to put on before she is
able to be released. She is truly one of our “miracle” patients this year.
