Exposure to COVID-19 is an inherent risk in any public location where people are present; we cannot guarantee you will not be exposed during your visit. Review Important Safety Guidelines

Close Alert
  • About Us Who We Are Who We Are

    See it Here, Save it There

  • Leadership Leadership Team Leadership Team

    Board & Corporate Leadership

  • Responsibility Corporate Responsibility Corporate Responsibility

    An Integral & Long-Term Commitment to Conservation.

  • Military
    Notable Recognitions
  • Corporate Partners
  • Careers
  • directions
    Auditions
Our Brands
  • Conservation & Science Conservation & Science Encounter sloths during your adventurous Animal Trek at Discovery Cove.

    Unmatched focus on Conservation and Science

  • Rescue & Rehabilitation Rescue & Rehabilitation SeaWorld Sea Lion Release

    Globally recognized leader in partnership with government and non-profit organizations

  • Animal Care Animal Care Animal Welfare

    Everything we do starts with world-class, professional and loving care

  • FAQ
    Research Partners
  • Education
    Education
Blog
  • Park Media Park Media SeaWorld's Electric Ocean Summer Event

    See the Latest Releases and Media Information for each of our Parks here.

  • Press Releases Press Releases Jack Hanna Weekend at SeaWorld Orlando

    View Our Latest Statements & Releases

  • Recent News Recent News Seven Seas

    What's New at SeaWorld Entertainment? Find Out Here

Investors
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

Buy Tickets

tickets
Back to Blog Home

SeaWorld’s Life-Saving Rescue Work Continues

April 20, 2020

Video Modal Share

While our SeaWorld parks may be temporarily closed, our animal care teams continue their life-saving efforts rescuing animals in need, providing rehabilitative care, and returning animals that are ready for a second chance at life.

SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego recently returned several marine mammals after months of rehabilitation at the park’s Animal Health and Rescue Center.  Over the past several weeks, seven California sea lions, one northern elephant seal, one harbor seal and three shorebirds were all able to be returned to the ocean. 

The elephant seal and sea lions were rescued from local San Diego beaches where they were found underweight, malnourished and unable to fend for themselves. SeaWorld experts provided hydration, subcutaneous fluids and specialized marine-mammal fish formula to the seal and sea lions until they were able to eat whole live fish on their own. One of the sea lions also had a cataract, which was surgically removed by one of SeaWorld’s partner veterinarians.

Once they gained weight and were healthy and strong, the park’s veterinary team gave them the okay to be returned to the wild.

The harbor seal was rescued as an orphaned neonate and was in SeaWorld’s care for eight weeks.  The park’s animal care experts became surrogate moms, providing a specialized marine-mammal milk formula, rich with 13 percent milk fat.

Once weaned, harbor seals become independent very quickly and are able to survive on their own.

Typically SeaWorld San Diego returns rehabilitated animals by boat, several miles off the shore. Because the beaches are closed to the public due to COVID-19, some of these returns took place directly on the beach.

So far this year, SeaWorld San Diego has rescued 50 marine mammals, 3 turtles and 131 birds.

Rehabilitated Harbor Seal
SeaWorld San Diego’s Eric Otjen watches as a rehabilitated harbor seal makes its way back to the ocean.


Animal Rescue
The SeaWorld San Diego Animal Rescue team recently returned several California sea lions off the San Diego coast.


SeaWorld Orlando

Although SeaWorld Orlando is temporarily closed, the lifesaving animal rescue work continues.   The 12th manatee of the year, a young calf suffering from cold stress,  was recently brought to the park by Florida Fish & Wildlife (FWC). The calf received antibiotics, was hydrated, stabilized and is doing well.    It will remain at SeaWorld for the length of its rehabilitation with a plan to return it to the wild.

On April 1, the Animal Rescue team returned two manatees which had been rehabilitating at the park for three months due to cold stress.  The team also returned three endangered, rehabilitated sea turtles off the coast of Flagler Beach  The turtles were part of group of sea turtles flown to SeaWorld last fall from New England suffering from illnesses related to cold stress.  SeaWorld often works in partnership with other facilities to successfully rehabilitate animals to ensure they can be returned to the wild.

Sea Turtles
SeaWorld Orlando recently returned three endangered, rehabilitated Kemp’s ridley sea turtles off the Florida coast. The park’s animal rescue efforts continue, despite the temporary closures.

Escape from Extinction Movie Poster

Escape From Extinction Q&A Session with Dr. Chris Dold

October 28, 2020

Dr. Dold, the Chief Zoological Officer at SeaWorld, sat down with us for a Q&A session about the new, eye-opening documentary, Escape From Extinction.

Conservation
Get Involved
SeaWorld Logo

Update on SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Operations

June 10, 2020

We are very excited to announce that seven of our parks have been approved to reopen with capacity limitations and enhanced health and safety protocols.

Earth Day

Composting Food Waste into Rich Soil

April 22, 2020

Composting is a great way to lessen your carbon footprint, cut down on the amount of garbage arriving at landfills, and create a healthy batch of soil that can be used in any garden.

Get Involved
  • Home
  • Blog
  • SeaWorld’s Life-Saving Rescue Work Continues
SEAS Logo
Our Company
  • Corporate Info
  • Jobs
  • Investor Relations
  • SeaWorld Cares
  • Our Company
Conservation
  • Conservation Fund
  • SeaWorld Cares Blog
  • Animal Welfare
  • Conservation Commitment
  • Conservation
Education & Entertainment
  • Camps
  • Emmy Award DVDs
  • Teacher Resources
  • Sea Rescue
  • Wildlife Docs
  • Education & Entertainment
Theme Parks
  • SeaWorld Orlando
  • SeaWorld San Diego
  • SeaWorld San Antonio
  • Discovery Cove
  • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
  • Busch Gardens Williamsburg
  • Sesame Place Philadelphia
  • Sesame Place San Diego
  • Theme Parks
Water Parks
  • Aquatica Orlando
  • Aquatica San Diego
  • Aquatica San Antonio
  • Adventure Island
  • Water Country USA
  • Water Parks

© 2021 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Notice of Collection
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Content License
  • Aquatica
  • Discovery Cove Logo
  • SeaWorld Logo
  • Busch Gardens Logo
  • Adventure Island Logo
  • Water Country USA Logo
  • Sesame Place Logo

Video Modal Share

Are you sure you want to delete this item?