Marine center turns out three more clients

It’s hard to say goodbye but in the case of Xander, Gilligan and

Pearl, it was a bitter, but mostly sweet, event.

The workers at the Marine Mammal Center had nurtured the pups

since they were newborns. They were placed in a room with access to

plenty of water and sun. Most important, they were cared for by

experts with a lot of love. For some, it is a living, others

volunteer their time. But it seems pretty clear when visiting the

center that everyone is there for the animals.

If for some unfathomable reason you haven’t had the chance to get

out there yet, give it a visit. The center is right off Laguna Canyon

Road, housed in a big red barn. The clientele come and go as they are

nursed back to health, released as soon as possible back into the

wild. That’s one of the things that make the trio special.

They have been at the center from three to six months, and their

need for hand-rearing means they can’t be released back into the

wild.

Now they are big, strong and ready to go, but as any loving parent

knows, it’s always too soon for the youngin’s to leave home.

Fortunately, the center workers were able to investigate the zoos

around the nation to find one that best fit the needs of the pups.

Xander, Gilligan and Pearl were able to go together to their new

home.

These animals, and plenty of others, wouldn’t have even had a

chance if not for centers such as the one in Laguna. Toxic algae has

been a hard-hitting culprit lately, but marine mammals are often in

need of rescuing because of a variety of issues.

For more information about the center, call (949) 494-3050.