Baby sea lion rescued from Mountain View parking lot

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Authorities and animal rescue workers saved a baby California sea lion from a parking lot near Google’s headquarters earlier this month, where he was found alone and suffering from malnutrition.

The sea lion, who has been named Babymac, is recovering from his ordeal at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, said Giancarlo Rulli, the center’s associate director of public relations. The sea lion was first reported on Jan. 5 to the Mountain View Police Department, whose officers rushed to the scene to usher the animal out of the road, according to a social media post from the agency.

“Thanks to the quick response and actions of the City of Mountain View Police Department, this young sea lion was kept safe from a dangerous roadway until our trained responders arrived to rescue him,” Dr. Emily Whitmer, clinical veterinarian at The Marine Mammal Center, said in a statement. “As a roughly 6-month-old pup who likely separated from his mother early, this animal has a long road to recovery from severe malnutrition. We are hopeful that in the coming weeks with continued specialized care that this pup starts to make positive strides toward recovery and release.”

On the morning of Jan. 5, MVPD recieved a call reporting a baby sea lion near Garcia Avenue, authorities said. Officers reported to the scene, where security guards had ensured that the animal was secured.

An MVPD officer then guided the pup out of the roadway and to her patrol car, authorities said.

MVPD called the Marine Mammal Center to report the animal, then stayed with him while responders from the Marine Mammal Center traveled to pick him up and transport him back to their animal hospital, Rulli said.

“It’s hypothesized, but not confirmed, that based on the rescue location, this young animal likely ventured up Charleston or Mountain View Slough via San Francisco Bay before making its way to Garcia Avenue,” Rulli said. “Whether it was following a food source or just took a wrong turn is unknown.”

When he arrived at the animal hospital, veterinarians examined Babymac and determined that he was suffering from maternal seperation, severe malnutrition and intestinal unrest, causing him to be lethargic and “not demonstrative in behavior,” Rulli said. They also determined that he is a male California sea lion who is about 30 pounds.

The vets also took samples to carry out further evaluation, Rulli added.

Babymac spent more than the first week of his recovery in an Intensive Care pen alongside a similarly-aged sea lion, where he recieved a “fish smoothie mixture” multiple times daily to provide him with hydration and help him to gain weight, Rulli said. In recent days, Babymac also started eating solid food — herrings, squid and anchovies — as well.

The rescue staff do not yet know the timeline for Babymac’s release into the wild, as his recovery is still in a “very early stage,” Rulli said. When separated from their mothers prematurely, young sea lions, who would typically remain with their mothers for a year to learn survival skills and nurse, face challenges such as the inability to forage food in the open ocean.

“The Center’s team is deeply grateful to the City of Mountain View’s Police Department for responding to, reporting, assisting our responders in its rescue and transfer,” Rulli added.

Rulli added that anyone who spots a marine mammal in distress should not intervene, stay at least 150 feet away and report it to their rescue hotline at 415-289-SEAL (7325).