Starving sea lion pup heads to San Diego restaurant for reprieve
By Staff
The Associated Press
Posted February 4, 2016 10:27 pm EST
1 min read
This article is more than 8 years old and some information may not be up to date.
In a photo provided by SeaWorld, an 8-month-old female sea lion pup is shown where it was found sleeping in a booth of the Marine Room, an upscale restaurant in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Experts were called from nearby SeaWorld, who said the pup was severely underweight and dehydrated.
Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld via AP
SAN DIEGO – A starving sea lion has been rescued after finding its way into the booth of a fancy San Diego restaurant.
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Experts at SeaWorld were called Thursday morning to The Marine Room, an oceanfront restaurant in La Jolla.
Rescuers found an 8-month-old female pup asleep in a dining booth. The pup was severely underweight and dehydrated.
The pup was taken to SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue Center, and experts are cautiously optimistic about her recovery.
There’s been a surge in sea lion mortality over the past year, with marine biologists collecting thousands of sick, starving, stranded or dead pups. So far this year, SeaWorld has rescued 47 sea lions and other marine mammals.
Scientists say the animals’ food supply has been affected by higher-than-normal ocean temperatures linked to El Nino.
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Kevin Robinson of SeaWorlds Rescue Team cares for an 8-month-old female sea lion pup at the animal theme park in San Diego, after it was found in a booth at the Marine Room, an upscale restaurant in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016.
Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld via AP
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In a photo provided by SeaWorld, Mary Kate Foster, left, and Jody Westberg of SeaWorlds Rescue Team carry an 8-month-old female sea lion pup after it was found sleeping in a booth of an upscale restaurant in San Diego, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016.
Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld via AP
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In a photo provided by SeaWorld, an 8-month-old female sea lion pup is shown where it was found sleeping in a booth of the Marine Room, an upscale restaurant in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Experts were called from nearby SeaWorld, who said the pup was severely underweight and dehydrated.
Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld via AP