Briana Mathaw
CASTROVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Marine Mammal Center is opening a new triage facility in Castroville, built to help more sick and injured sea lions, seals, and even whales, much faster.
“We are able to respond to any urgent injuries or animals in distress much more quickly,” said Cecily Majerus, CEO of the Marine Mammal Center.
This new space could mean the difference between life and death for hundreds of animals each year, according to the Marine Mammal Center.
The new 4,000 square foot triage facility will help stabilize sick and injured animals before heading to the main hospital in Sausalito.
“This is a triage center, and right now animals come here for one to three days so they can rest up before taking that long journey,” said Majerus. “These animals are coming in sicker with more diseases because of pollution, the changing ocean environments and the diseases that are out there. And we are now able, with this facility, to not only continue our work but expand our work.”
The new facility also behaving as a window into the ocean’s health, with Monterey Bay as one of the busiest hotspots for marine mammal strandings in California, according to the Marine Mammal Center.
“[Animals] are telling us what is going on with the ocean,” said Majerus. “They are giving us clues to the ocean’s health.”
Majerus referencing the facility’s large space to being able to help nurture animals back to health.
“It’s much larger than what we were previously operating with, so the volunteers and staff are really excited because we have much more room to expand and house more animals and prepare food for them,” said Response and Animal Care Manager Morgan Fisher.
According to State Senator John Laird, marine research and animal rescue doesn’t just help wildlife, it informs scientists and officials about future ocean policy.
“It’s the science behind [oceanic study] because they will examine why they’re needing rescue,” he said. “Is it because the oceans acidifying? Is it because of propellers? Is it because of bad food? In a way, that tells us about ocean health, so having that as a permanent resource here is a wonderful thing.”
The center is also dealing with a Leptospirosis outbreak, a serious bacterial disease that can spread to people and pets, so being near the bay could save critical time.
“Right now, we are actually in an outbreak of Liptosporosis, so we always wear our PPE when going into the play with the animals,” said Fisher.
“We are closer to those animals where they’re getting sick,” said Majerus. “We can reach them sooner, provide care much faster, bring them here, get them stabilized before they go up to the main hospital. It will increase our success rate.”
With more than 11,000 rescues from this region already, the center expects hundreds more to come through Castroville each year, serving as a home base for staff and over 100 local volunteers.
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