The staff at the care center saved Marina and Lily’s lives after they were both injured by bullets, and I have wanted to thank them for a long time.
Lily and Marina have adjusted wonderfully to Zoo life with the help of dedicated staff and positive reinforcement training. I wanted the marine mammal care center to know the latest on our sea lions’ successes, since they were part of it from the beginning.
When I saw on the news that there has been hundreds of sea lion pups washing up on shore, starving and ill, and that the center needed donations and volunteers, I knew this was the time to go. So I packed my bags and went to help out. The center was so clean and well-run, I felt hope and not sadness. If animals were to be saved, it was here and I was proud to be part of this team, even for a short time.
Over $1,250 was donated by the American Association of Zoo Keepers (our wonderful zookeeper chapter) and from the sales of the book Puff the Sea lion: A Love Story.
Please donate your time and money if you can. It does make a difference.
-Blog and photos by Mary Ellen Ostrander, Zoo Keeper