Our Marine Mammal team rescued our first EVER black-coat elephant seal pup today! This approximately three weeks old pup should still be on the beach with her mother on one of the Channel Islands. However, last weeks storms and incredibly rough surf likely washed her out to sea where she was carried by the currents (she doesn't swim well yet) to our shores. She crash landed on the rocks at Leo Carillo State Beach and has numerous cuts, bruises and bumps. The "black-coat" refers to the curly black coat that all elephant seals are born with and that is shed shortly after weaning to reveal their normal brownish-silver pelage. She was transported to the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro this morning. Her prognosis is guarded because she is so young, but we will all be keeping our fingers crossed for her!
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