Cheer for Chippy" the Wayward Sea Lion and Help Him Back to His Ocean Home

The Marine Mammal Center and the California Highway Patrol are raising funds to help offset the medical costs related in caring for a wayward sea lion found some 65 miles away from the ocean. Donations can be made either online via The Centers website at www.marinemammalcenter.org or by mail to the CAHP Sea Lion Fund c/o The CAHP, P.O. Box 161209, Sacramento, CA 95816.

SAUSALITO, CA (PRWEB) February 13, 2004 --The Marine Mammal Center (www.marinemammalcenter.org) and the California Highway Patrol are raising funds to help offset the medical costs related in caring for a wayward sea lion found some 65 miles away from the ocean. Chippy", named by the CHP officer who found him, was found near The Central Valley city of Los Banos on Feb. 9th. The 315 pound adult California sea lion made his amazing journey down the San Joaquin River channel, eventually resting on top of a CHP squad car. Rescuers from The Centers Monterey Bay operations herded Chippy into a cage and transported him by truck to the main Sausalito hospital for medical attention. Upon examination and x-rays, veterinarians at The Centers hospital discovered a bullet lodged in soft tissue just behind Chippys skull. It is not known exactly how long this bullet has been inside the animals head, or if it will adversely affect the animals health.

Nearly 8 percent of California sea lions admitted to The Center suffer from gun shot wounds, most to their heads," said Cynthia Schramm, communications and marketing director for The Marine Mammal Center. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, it is illegal to injure or harass marine animals and there are heavy fines for this type of crime. Now our main goal is to take care of Chippy and help him get back to his ocean home," said Schramm.

Help Chippy recover:

The Center, along with the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, is fundraising to help pay for the food, medical attention and care Chippy and other patients like him need. Donations can be made either online via The Centers website at www.marinemammalcenter.org or by mail to the CAHP Sea Lion Fund c/o The CAHP, P.O. Box 161209, Sacramento, CA 95816.

The Marine Mammal Center is a non-profit hospital dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of wild marine mammals that are ill, injured or orphaned, along 600 miles of northern and central California coastline. Since 1975, The Center has worked with over 10,000 California sea lions, elephant seals, sea otters and other marine life. It uniquely combines its rehabilitation program with scientific discovery and education programs throughout the Bay Area and the world, to advance the understanding of marine mammal health, ocean health and to promote conservation.

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