Rehabilitated California Sea Lion Makes a Splash at Riverbanks
For Immediate Release: August 19, 2016
Female’s Introduction to the All-Male Mix Goes Swimmingly
[Columbia, SC] — Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is excited to announce the addition of a female California sea lion to the Zoo’s animal collection. Annette, age unknown, came to Riverbanks in late July from Squalus, Inc. in Myrtle Beach.
Annette was transferred to Squalus from Sea World San Diego in February following an unfavorable journey in the wild. She was stranded, rehabilitated and released on four separate occasions between December 2014 and June 2015. Finally, after being stranded a fifth time in September 2015, Annette was deemed non-releasable by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and placed permanently in human care.
Annette lives at Riverbanks’ Sea Lion Landing with four male sea lions and a male harbor seal. Two of the male sea lions, Maverick and Ranger, also are previously rehabilitated animals considered non-releasable.
In addition to caring for marine mammals at Riverbanks, the Zoo also is a proud supporter of research by the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California to improve the medical treatment of these animals. A grant provided by Riverbanks Conservation Support Fund (CSF) aided studies designed to test the effectiveness of antibiotics used to treat California sea lions and harbor seals. The results of this important research will advance the medical care of marine mammals during rehabilitation as well as those in permanent human care.