Once-Ailing Sea Lion, Rescued In Laguna Beach, Heads To Zoo

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A sea lion rescued by the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach that took about a year to nurture back to health is about to make its debut at a zoo in Des Moines, Iowa, officials said Thursday.

Meatball, who experts believe was born in June of 2018, was rescued Jan. 24 of last year from Laguna Beach and weighed just 24 pounds, said Krysta Higuchi of the center. She had suffered deep puncture wounds, but it was unclear why, Higuchi said.

Meatball had an upper respiratory tract infection and was malnourished and dehydrated, Higuchi said.

"Her rehabilitation was so abnormal," Higuchi said. "We had to tube- feed her for so long. Definitely, at the beginning, we were very worried."

Meatball has trouble feeding herself, so experts decided she is not a good candidate for release back into the wild.

The Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines has accepted Meatball, who arrived there Jan. 30, Higuchi said. She spent about two weeks in quarantine, which is normal, Higuchi added.

"While it is unfortunate that Meatball cannot be released back into her natural habitat, we are thankful to PMMC for the opportunity to give her a permanent home," said Shannon McKinney, director of animal care at the zoo. "She will become an ambassador for our oceans, educating our guests on the importance of conserving our oceans and natural resources."

Meatball will also have some friends at the zoo.

"Meatball will also become a great companion to our other female sea lions, Zoey and Addy, and our three harbor seals, Ross, Meru and Monty," McKinney said.

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--City News Service