Hawaiian monk seal pup Lele-aka was severely underweight when she was found alone on a beach without her mother in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which is home to about 80 percent of this endangered population.

Her name means œmilky way in Hawaiian, and the stars aligned for this pup when she was brought to Ke Kai Ola, our Hawaiian monk seal hospital in the Main Hawaiian Islands.

Lele-aka was initially fed fish-mash smoothies until she was strong enough to transition to eating whole fish.

After nine months of care, Lele-aka regained her health and was released back to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands where she will help rebuild this endangered population of just 1,400 animals.

Lele-aka's story is so inspiring and memorable that she was nominated as a 2017 Patient of the Year. Show your support for patients like Lele-aka by adopting her today.

Guadalupe fur seal pup Rudy Miramontes was close to death when she was rescued in very poor body condition.

You'd think a starving animal like that would be eager to eat, but Rudy was very stubborn”a trait typical of fur seals like her”and she refused to go after the fish tossed to her each day.

Our dedicated animal care experts ensured Rudy got the nutrition she needed through special tube feedings multiple times a day. Once Rudy finally ate fish on her own and had regained her strength, she was given a clean bill of health.

Rudy was released back to the wild with a second chance at life and the hope that she may one day help grow the population of this threatened species with a pup of her own.

Rudy's story is so inspiring and memorable that she was nominated as a 2017 Patient of the Year. Show your support for patients like Rudy by adopting her today.

Concerned beachgoers called our 24-hour hotline after spotting a small fluffy figure alone on the beach. Thanks to these everyday heroes, harbor seal Aquapup was brought into our care after being separated from his mother too soon.

During his admit exam, he was sporting a fluffy lanugo coat often seen on newborn pups, and our veterinarians noted he didn't have any teeth or tooth buds ” indicating he was merely days old. This meant our hard-working volunteers needed to feed him a special milk formula nearly around the clock to keep him nourished those first few days.

Thanks to the heroic efforts of the concerned beachgoers and our animal care team, as well as support from people like you, Aquapup graduated from fish milkshakes to fish school, where he learned to eat whole fish on his own. He was released with the skills he would need to survive in the wild and a second chance at life.

Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like Aquapup.

Hawaiian monk seal pup ‘Ākulikuli was rescued from Laysan Island in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. He had recently weaned from his mother, but was not getting the nutrition he needed and was severely underweight.

Hawaiian monk seals are an endangered species, with only about 1,400 left in the wild. So it was important that ‘Ākulikuli be brought to Ke Kai Ola, our Hawaiian monk seal hospital on the island of Hawai˜i, for rehabilitative care.

Despite being malnourished, our veterinarians noted that he was active and in otherwise good health. ‘Ākulikuli was tube-fed a nutritious formula at first and soon transitioned to eating whole fish on his own. Human contact was minimal and specialized enrichment activities encouraged him to develop natural behaviors and skills to ensure he'd have the best chance of survival out in the wild.

Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like ‘Ākulikuli.

Steller sea lion Smores was found alone on a beach at just a few months old. Steller sea lion pups typically spend their first year or more with their mothers as they nurse and learn vital survival skills.

At the Center, Smores was housed with many different patients. Steller sea lions are a very social species, and Smores formed a quick bond with a northern fur seal that was about 100 pounds smaller than her.

Spending time with companions of different species and ages helps Steller sea lion pups avoid habituating to humans while learning important behavior skills. Smores was protective of her pen-mates, which our veterinarians noted as a good sign that she would do well back in the wild.

After nine months of rehabilitation, Smores was released near the Farallon Islands, a marine sanctuary that is home to many other Steller sea lions.

Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like Smores.

Northern fur seal Mordanne was rescued near a busy highway in a deadly situation. He was starving, weak and very far from his ocean home.

During his admit exam, our veterinarians noted he was only 16 pounds”about half of what he should weigh at his age.

When patients like Mordanne are too young to eat whole fish, they are tube-fed a nutritious formula at first. Once Mordanne regained his strength, he started to dive and catch his own fish.

Mordanne steadily gained a healthy amount of weight during his care at the Center. He was released with a good bill of health, the skills he would need to survive in the wild and a second chance at life.

Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like Mordanne.

Harbor seal pup Rebel Princess was found alone on a beach at just a few days old. He was so young that he still had part of his umbilical cord attached when he was rescued. A pup this young should still be with his mother nursing and won't survive on his own in the wild.

After being admitted to our hospital, Rebel Princess was tube-fed a special milk formula four times a day for several weeks. Once his teeth grew in, our animal care experts began giving him whole fish and ensuring he had opportunities to learn how to compete with other seals for his meals.

After about two months of care, Rebel Princess was strong enough to survive on his own and was released back to the wild.

Rebel Princess' story is so inspiring and memorable that he was nominated as a 2017 Patient of the Year. Show your support for patients like Rebel Princess by adopting him today.

Guadalupe fur seal Annette got his name because he was found with a net around his head. This threatened species has one of the highest rates of entanglements among the seal and sea lion species we rescue.

During his initial exam, our veterinarians noted that Annette was severely underweight. The entanglement likely left him unable to swim well enough to catch food, and he was weak and fatigued.

After being disentangled, Annette recovered quickly from his wounds, though he still had deep wounds around his head that needed to heal. Finally, after over a month of care, Annette was ready to return to his ocean home.

Annette was released with a satellite tag, and our researchers tracked him over 300 miles from where he was released. By studying his movements in the wild, our scientists can learn more about this threatened species and how to protect them.

Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like Annette.

Guadalupe fur seal Snaggle was found with brightly colored netting wrapped tightly around him. Weak and fatigued, he was on the brink of what would have been a devastating fate.

During his initial exam, our veterinarians noted the Snaggle was severely underweight. The entanglement likely left him unable to swim well enough to catch food, and he could barely open his mouth.

Snaggle also had an injury on his front flipper where he was missing one of his “finger” bones and was diagnosed with anemia—a condition marked by a lack of red blood cells.

After being disentangled, Snaggle recovered quickly from his wounds, but it took a while to treat his anemia. Finally, after three months of care, blood tests showed that Snaggle was finally producing a normal number of red blood cells and was ready to return to his ocean home.

Hawaiian monk seal pup Sole (pronounced SUH-lay) was rescued on the remote Kalaupapa Peninsula on Moloka˜i after he was prematurely weaned from his mother's milk and wasn't able to get the nutrition he needed.

Hawaiian monk seals are an endangered species, with only about 1,400 left in the wild, so it was important that Sole be brought to our hospital, Ke Kai Ola, for rehabilitative care. Despite being malnourished, our veterinarians noted that he was in good health.

Sole was tube-fed a nutritious formula at first and soon transitioned to eating whole fish. Human contact was minimal and specialized enrichment activities encouraged him to develop natural behaviors and skills to ensure he'd have the best chance of survival out in the wild.

After months of care, Sole was released back to his ocean home with a second chance at life.

Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like Sole.

Northern elephant seal pup Zurich was found on a beach looking much too skinny. It was clear she was not getting enough to eat out in the wild and likely faced a sad fate without help.

Luckily, Zurich was rescued and brought to our hospital where she received the medical care she desperately needed.

Animal care experts noted that Zurich was one of the smallest elephant seal pups onsite at the time. But as she began to eat her nutritious fish meals, Zurich slowly put on a healthy amount of weight and regained her strength.

After nearly three months of care, Zurich received a clean bill of health and was released back to her ocean home just steps away from our main hospital.

Northern fur seal Inky was rescued weak and starving ” although you might not have suspected it since he was admitted at over 215 pounds! Inky is the largest northern fur seal ever admitted to the Center, but still weighed about half of what he should have as an adult male.

Lab results confirmed our veterinarians' suspicion that Inky was suffering from domoic acid, a potentially deadly neurotoxin.This toxin can also affect humans who eat contaminated shellfish, though marine mammals are often the first to be impacted. By caring for patients like Inky, our scientists can alert authorities when we see an outbreak and help them better protect human health.

Thankfully Inky came into our care before significant damage, and we were able to help flush the toxin from his system by giving him fluids and fish free of domoic acid. After being granted a clean bill of health, he was released back to his ocean home with a second chance.

Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like Inky.

California sea lion Seadog was spotted not looking like a healthy young sea lion should. He was brought to our hospital where our expert veterinarians determined that he was showing signs of domoic acid toxicity.

Domoic acid, a potentially deadly neurotoxin, accumulates in small fish like sardines and anchovies. So the hearty meals that should have nourished Seadog instead made him deathly ill. This toxin can also impact humans, but caring for patients like Seadog helps protect human health. That’s because it allows our scientists to alert officials who can then regulate the seafood that ends up on our plates.

Luckily Seadog came into our care before too much harm was done. You see, if left untreated, domoic acid can cause permanent brain damage or even death.

After about a month of care, Seadog was granted a clean bill of health and released back to his ocean home with a second chance.

California sea lion Bluegrass was spotted at PIER 39, a popular Bay Area sea lion hangout, with a severe wound to his face. He was brought to our hospital where our expert veterinary team determined the wound was from a gunshot.

Bluegrass underwent intensive surgery and was left with only one eye. But our veterinary experts know that sea lions are able to survive in the wild with just one eye as their other senses, like smell and hearing, can help compensate.

Gunshot victims like Bluegrass serve as a stark reminder of the continued need for protections, such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act, for this sentinel species. Luckily, we have seen a steady decline in gunshot injury admits since the early 1990s and, thanks to caring people like you, can continue advocating for marine mammals.

After weeks of rehabilitative care, Bluegrass' gunshot wound healed fully and he was released back to the wild with a second chance.

Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like Bluegrass.

California sea lion Argus was rescued just a few miles from The Marine Mammal Center near a busy marina. Our veterinary experts determined that he was suffering from leptospirosis, a bacterial infection of the kidneys.

Argus was one of several dozen California sea lions we treated for leptospirosis in 2017, a serious disease that can also infect humans. What our scientists learn from treating patients like Argus helps us better understand how this disease is transmitted and how to protect human health as well.

Treatment for the potentially lethal infection includes antibiotics, fluids and other supportive care, such as gastro-protectants for stomach and intestinal ulcers.

Once Argus had recovered fully from the disease, he was released back to the wild just steps from our hospital.

Argus' story is so inspiring and memorable that he was nominated as a 2017 Patient of the Year. Show your support for patients like Argus by adopting him today.

Harbor seal pup Woody was rescued from what would have been a sad fate. She was found motherless and starving—with no way to get the nutrition she needed.

At the Center, she was tube-fed a nutritious formula to help her grow strong and gain a healthy amount of weight.

During “fish school,” when harbor seal pups learn life skills, Woody wasn’t as interested in the fish as her pen-mates were. As other harbor seal pups learned skills like competing for fish, Woody would watch them or play with the fish.

But once Woody had her “light-bulb moment,” she started to eat the fish and not just play with them! Just a few weeks later, Woody was ready for her second chance out in the wild and was released with other young harbor seals.

Southern sea otter pup Langly was orphaned when her mother received a fatal bite from a great white shark. Luckily, her mother was able to get Langly safely to shore, where The Marine Mammal Center's trained responders were able to rescue her.

After about a month at our hospital, Langly was joined by another young sea otter. Sprout was rescued by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and treated for exposure to domoic acid. This toxin produced by harmful algal blooms can contaminate the shellfish that both otters and humans enjoy.

Langly and Sprout immediately formed a strong bond and spent much of their time at the Center swimming and playing together.

When Sprout first arrived at our hospital, she needed a name. Thanks to kind and creative people like you, she received more than 800 name suggestions and more than 4,500 votes to determine the winning name.

Thanks to people like you, Sprout not only got her name, both she and Langly got a second chance at life. Show your support for sea otter patients like Langly and Sprout by adopting them together today.

Hawaiian monk seal pup Maka Kilo was found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands looking much too skinny. In fact, she was so small at her time of rescue that experts estimated she had a less than one percent chance of surviving on her own during the coming winter.

As one of the most endangered marine mammals, saving an individual monk seal means everything. So it was critical that Maka Kilo be brought to Ke Kai Ola, our hospital on the Big Island dedicated to saving this endangered species, for medical care.

Once at our hospital, Maka Kilo was tube-fed a nutritious fish-mash smoothie which helped her regain her strength. For as thin as she was, Maka Kilo was playful and sociable with her pen-mate.

After months of care, this once-underweight monk seal pup grew into a seal capable of thriving in the wild. She was fitted with a satellite tag (so researchers could track her movements in the wild!) and released with three other monk seals at Midway Atoll.

Northern elephant seal pups are born with black coats of fur that are shed for a sleek, silvery-gray coat once they’ve weaned from their mother. So our team was quite intrigued when a pup arrived sporting a unique reddish coat! He was named Weasley, after the famous fictional wizarding family of similar coloring.

Weasley was admitted severely malnourished and well under birth weight. Our dedicated animal care team tube-fed him nutritious fish smoothies and coached him through fish school. Thanks to their magical efforts, he learned how to eat whole fish on his own and compete with other animals while more than doubling his admit weight.

Weasley’s mysterious hue could have been a sun-bleached black coat, though our experts weren’t able to find a definitive reason. He eventually molted his reddish coat and was released back into his ocean home with the skill set needed to survive in the wild with his fellow silvery seals.

Harbor seal pup Lucinda was found with fishing gear dangling from her tiny body. The most heartbreaking part was that Lucinda’s mouth was tugged at each time she moved her front flipper due to the hooks and fishing line that connected them.

Once at our hospital, Lucinda’s admit exam revealed that her entanglement was worse than what could be seen at first glance.

Using advanced medical equipment, our veterinarians were able to see inside Lucinda’s tiny body, where they discovered a third hook embedded in her stomach that would have to be removed surgically.

Luckily, Lucinda recovered well after her disentanglement surgery. In fact, she started eating the very next day! It wasn’t long before Lucinda made a full recovery and was released back to the wild with a second chance at life.

Northern fur seal Orpheus is one of fewer than 40 adult northern fur seals we've rescued in our 42-year history. These animals spend almost all of their time in the open ocean and rarely come ashore, so when they do, we know something's wrong.

When Orpheus was admitted to our hospital, she was suffering from domoic acid poisoning after eating fish contaminated with a toxin produced by harmful algal blooms.

She also had an injury on her hind flipper that was so severe our veterinarians had to amputate it. Fortunately for Orpheus, northern fur seals have powerful front flippers, allowing her to survive with only one hind flipper intact.

After more than two months of care, Orpheus was released back to her ocean home.

Orpheus' story is so inspiring and memorable that she was nominated as a 2017 Patient of the Year. Show your support for patients like Orpheus by adopting her today.

Southern sea otter pup Langly and her mother were rescued after a shark had mistaken them for a meal. Langly’s mother lost too much blood and didn’t survive the drive to our hospital, making the young pup an orphan.

Because Langly was so young, our dedicated volunteers prepared meals for her six times a day, cracking mussels and removing shrimp legs to make her transition to solid food easier.

Langly was soon joined by two more sea otters, and the three of them became great companions. But feeding them was quite expensive as otter diets include delicacies such as shrimp, crab and scallops.

Before her release back to the wild, Langly was fitted with a tracking device so researchers can learn more about this threatened species.

Northern fur seal Dracula was only three to four months old when he was found in a scary situation. Weak, malnourished and with his mother nowhere in sight, Dracula was in need of a miracle.

After our trained responders safely transported this pup to our hospital, our veterinarians prescribed him a treatment plan that included plenty of nutritious fish meals, antibiotics and fluids.

Dracula began to slowly regain his strength. It wasn’t long before he was practicing important skills he would need to survive in the wild, like catching fish and competing for food with his pen-mates.

After about six weeks of care, Dracula had transformed from a weak, skinny pup to a fur seal ready for his second chance at life. Dracula was released back to his ocean home alongside other fur seals his age.

Northern elephant seal Kehoe was one of the first pups rescued in 2017. During the first few months of the year, elephant seals are born on beaches up and down the California coast and stay with their mothers for about a month.

But Kehoe was separated from her mother much too early. She was found alone on a beach with abrasions on her chin and flippers, indicating that she may have been tossed around in the rough surf during a strong winter storm.

Without her mother to nurse her, Kehoe needed help from our animal care experts who tube-fed her with a special fish smoothie formula until she began eating whole fish.

After three months of care, Kehoe was released back to the wild with a second chance at life.

Kehoe's story is so inspiring and memorable that she was nominated as a 2017 Patient of the Year. Show your support for patients like Kehoe by adopting her today.

Northern elephant seal pup Juanita was so young at her time of rescue that she still had her black coat of fur. Elephant seal pups shed this dark fur once they've weaned from their mother, so our trained responders knew she was too young to be on her own.

Without nutrition from her mother's milk or any survival skills, Juanita had little to no chance of survival in the wild.

Once at the Center, Juanita was very shy. She did not want to eat or swim when the pool was crowded with other young patients.

After many months of coaxing by our dedicated animal care volunteers, Juanita gained confidence and learned how to eat whole fish and compete with other animals. She was released back to her ocean home with the skill set she needed to survive in the wild.

Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like Juanita.

When southern sea otter Yankee Doodle was spotted rubbing his belly on a northern California beach rather than frolicking amongst the kelp, The Marine Mammal Center's trained responders knew the adult otter was in distress.

Yankee Doodle was admitted to the Center's hospital on the evening of July 3, earning him a nickname in honor of the Fourth of July holiday. During an initial admit exam, he exhibited signs of brain disease in addition to being lethargic, underweight and malnourished for his age.

An MRI and some additional tests confirmed that Yankee Doodle was suffering from domoic acid poisoning after eating shellfish contaminated with a toxin produced by harmful algal blooms. His bloodwork also indicated that he was battling another potentially lethal condition: toxoplasmosis, which can cause fatal brain infections in sea otters and other animals.

After three months of treatment that included fluids, antibiotics and a rich diet of restaurant-quality seafood, Yankee Doodle was released back to his ocean home.

Yankee Doodle's story is so inspiring and memorable that he was nominated as a 2017 Patient of the Year. Show your support for patients like Yankee Doodle by adopting him today.

California sea lion Dangela was found with his flippers tightly folded against his body. He was brought to our hospital and diagnosed with leptospirosis”a bacterial infection of the kidneys that can be fatal if left untreated.

Dangela was just one of hundreds of California sea lions we've treated for leptospirosis during major outbreaks every four or five years. This disease is serious because it can also infect humans and dogs. By treating patients like Dangela, our scientific experts gain a better understanding of how leptospirosis is transmitted and how to protect human health.

Treatment for this potentially lethal infection includes antibiotics, fluids and other supportive care, such as gastro-protectants for stomach and intestinal ulcers.

Once Dangela recovered fully from the disease, he was released back to the wild with a second chance.

Thank you for your generous donation and for making a difference in the life of a marine mammal like Dangela.

Guadalupe fur seal Neshema was found so tangled up in heavy fishing gear that he was unable to swim well enough to catch fish. Weak and malnourished, this young fur seal faced a heartbreaking fate without help.

Trained responders rescued Neshema and he was safely brought to our hospital for the medical care he so desperately needed.

Guadalupe fur seals have one of the highest rates of entanglement among our patients, and experts are concerned that these life-threatening entrapments are harming this threatened species’ chance at recovering.

After the fishing gear was carefully removed, Neshema began to heal. Finally, after just over a month of care, Neshema was ready to return to his ocean home with a second chance at life.