Watch a livestream of the Marine Mammal Care Center’s first release of the year
The Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC) will livestream its first marine mammal release of the year, returning two rehabilitated California sea lion pups to the wild after months of care next Wednesday, January 14th, at 9 AM PT.
The pups, Valentina and Keola, were rescued from Malibu within days of each other at just five months old. Too young to survive on their own, both were malnourished and underweight when they arrived at MMCC’s hospital. After two months of treatment, rehabilitation, and learning how to catch fish independently, they’re now healthy enough to head back to the ocean where they belong.
Releases like this are the quiet payoff for a lot of unglamorous work: medical treatment, careful monitoring, daily feeding, and patient conditioning by staff and volunteers to ensure young animals can survive once they’re returned to the wild. Not every rescue ends this way, which makes each successful release a celebration.
The release will be streamed live for anyone who wants to watch — a rare chance to see what successful wildlife rehabilitation looks like at the moment it matters most!
If you’d like to attend virtually, you can RSVP for the livestream here
And if you’re able, MMCC always welcomes support. Donations help fund rescues, medical care, and releases like this one and the many that will follow throughout the year!