Save The Seals: Marine Mammal Center Needs $1M To Stay Open

PALOS VERDES, CA — The only rescue center that offers round the clock care to sick sea lions and malnourished elephant seals in Los Angeles County may have to shut down if it can't raise $1 million by June.

The Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles, overwhelmed by a spike in ailing animals and its switch from a business to a nonprofit, is battling to keep its San Pedro facility open through next year, the nonprofit announced Thursday. The 2020 operating budget for the nonprofit hospital was slashed "to a bare minimum," but they are still $1 million short of what they need, Amber Becerra, President of the MMCC, said in a press release.

"We are saving lives here at MMCC and these precious animals need our help. But we can’t do this alone — it’s going to take a village," Becerra said. "We need you — the community — to come together to save this incredible organization.”

The MMCC has rescued more than 8,000 animals stranded on Southern California beaches, from Seal Beach to Malibu. In 2016, the center switched from a business to a nonprofit organization, but the donations have not kept up with the cost of food, medicine, veterinarians and other care for the animals. At this time, 80 percent of all funds raised goes directly to animal care, according to the nonprofit.

Becerra, who is working as a volunteer along with three other volunteer board members, spent the last month reorganizing the center and tightening the budget, the press release said.

"As a nonprofit hospital, public support is needed to support MMCC’s ocean conservation and marine mammal rehabilitation efforts," Becerra said.

Last year, they rescued more than 350 patients — 68 percent were California sea lions and 26 percent were northern elephant seals. Every once in a while, the center receives injured dolphins, which they care for until the dolphins can be transferred to a larger facility.

The marine animals are typically hospitalized for injuries caused by fishing net and line entanglement, ocean trash, gunshot wounds, shark bites and malnourishment, according to MMCC.

"Despite the important public function served by the hospital, MMCC is not slated to receive any specifically delegated government funding at this time," Becerra said. "Historical donor support has not yet reached the levels required for sustainability."

California’s sea lion population experienced an Unusual Mortality Event from 2013 to 2017, leaving large numbers of baby marine mammals stranded due to malnourishment. The unexpected spike in deaths "took its toll on the staff and volunteers, as well as the financial footing of the organization," MMCC said.

MMCC's goal is to "rehabilitate and release the animals back to their ocean homes," the press release said. The care center employs a full-time veterinarian, Dr. Lauren Palmer and has 150 volunteers who each work a shift per week. They do anything from animal husbandry to serving as educational docents.

Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the public is not allowed to come within 50 feet of marine mammals, so MMCC said their organization is essential to accommodate animals in need of help, while also protecting the health and safety of beachgoers.

"Our hospital provides a vital service for animals that have been injured by human actions by giving them the care they need and a safe haven in which they can recover," Dr. Palmer said.

MMCC will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 16, to celebrate its 10,000th day of operation. Visitors from around Southern California will be able to observe feeding recovering seals and sea lions, browse exhibits in our Visitors Center, learn from demonstrations and presentations, meet local supporters, enjoy children’s activities and more.

MMCC will also be accepting donations of hospital supplies at the open house event. The wish list can be viewed online, and monetary donations can be made on the MMCCLA website.