The Marine Mammal Center

Since 1975, we've rescued more than 24,000 marine mammals 🚑🦦 along over 600 miles of coastline in California and Hawai‘i 🦭🌊🌺 But we weren't always the world's largest marine mammal hospital! Check out these photos from the historical archive 🎞️ to get a sense of just how far our state-of-the-art facility has come 🏥 Don't just take our word for it, see for yourself when you visit our Sausalito hospital. Just reserve a general admission ticket - completely free of charge - ahead of your visit at https://bit.ly/3scar7M.

How is technology reshaping how we approach critical conservation efforts? 🐋📡🦭 From satellite tags and drones used to monitor marine mammals to state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, advancements like these (along with your support!) make a powerful difference in protecting wildlife and our ocean 🌊 Discover 5 amazing innovations in ocean health at https://bit.ly/3S2wMBl. 📷 Bill Hunnewell

🚨 Deadline fast approaching ‼️ We're recruiting response volunteers in Hawai‘i 🦭🏝️ As a volunteer you may survey beaches for Hawaiian monk seals, assist in patient transports, talk story about this endangered species and our conservation work, and more 🌊 But hurry! Applications close August 3 so get started today at https://bit.ly/3ufAOLM. 📷 elenagraham.com

Our volunteers are seal-iously the best 🦭🤩 Want to get involved? We're recruiting new volunteers for our Sausalito hospital and Northern Range Operations right now! Volunteers may respond to, care for and transport marine mammals as well as engage with others about ways to help our ocean 🌊 Join the interest list by July 31 to get an invite to the new volunteer orientation on August 1 📩 Sign up now at https://bit.ly/2Pg1VUm. 🎥 Lauren Barkan

Get Ready to Learn More About WHALE CONSERVANCY TOMORROW! 🐳 Join the American Cetacean Society - San Francisco Bay Chapter for another fascinating night with Kathi George from The Marine Mammal Center. "Whale Conservation in San Francisco Bay and Beyond" Tuesday, July 23, 2024 7:00 PM 8:30 PM Register Now: https://lnkd.in/gN45DThp Dive into whale conservation in San Francisco Bay and beyond! Join Kathi George, The Marine Mammal Center’s Director of Cetacean Conservation Biology who will lead us on an exploration of cetacean research initiatives at The Marine Mammal Center including maritime collaborations that reduce the risk of entanglement and vessel strike on large whales. Can there be a balance between whales and human activities? Discover how the Center is working to create such a balance. BIO As the Director of Cetacean Conservation Biology for The Marine Mammal Center, Kathi (Koontz) George oversees cetacean research, large whale entanglement response, and synthesis of data for management and conservation impact. Since joining the Center in 2019, she has expanded advocacy efforts to address two of the greatest threats to large whales worldwide: entanglement and vessel strikes. She is a member of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (serving as the Conservation seat) and previously as a member of the 2021 Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Advisory Council Joint Ship Strike Working Group. Additionally, she is a member of the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group and San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee, where she is leading a project to reduce the risk of vessel strikes on large whales in and near San Francisco Bay.

A clean ocean starts on land 🏔️ so we've teamed up with Friends of the Urban Forest for Stewardship Saturday on July 27 🌳 Teens will learn about urban greening and take part in it by planting trees in San Francisco to support our environment 🌱 This event for high school students is completely free, but space is limited. Register now to save your teen's spot at https://bit.ly/4bGEKao.

RA20 was recently found with a nylon strap snug around her body 😧 Our team was alerted, thanks to a caring person that called our hotline, and leapt into action to help the Hawaiian monk seal, which is one of just a few seals that spend the majority of their time on Hawai‘i Island. Specially trained responders and a seatbelt cutter made for a speedy effort to free RA20. The two-time mom appeared healthy as she swam away from the beach shortly after the disentanglement 🏝️ Each individual is critical to save this endangered species and we're thankful this situation was resolved before it became life-threatening. You can help ensure emergency care like this is at the ready at https://bit.ly/3xSwruj.

The latest issue of Journal of Proteome Research from ACS Publications features new domoic acid research from our experts and parters at College of Charleston and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) The team of investigators found marker proteins associated with domoic acid in California sea lions 🧬 This neurotoxin was first diagnosed in marine mammals by our scientists in 1998, and continues to be studied by our researchers today 🔬 This latest discovery will help our veterinarians distinguish between acute and chronic intoxication faster in order to begin more effective treatment for our patients sooner. Oh, and did we mention the cover art is by our Director of Pathology, Pádraig Duignan? 🤩 Dive into the fascinating research now at https://bit.ly/3zEy8w4. 📷 Pádraig Duignan

We're #hiring a new Major Gifts Officer in Sausalito, California. Apply today or share this post with your network.

It's hard to believe I'm celebrating 20 years as a volunteer (this month) at The Marine Mammal Center. I never would have imagined as a 14-year-old looking to complete high school service hours, the path it's led me on. I was enthralled from day one. For the past 9 plus years as a staff member, I've been afforded the opportunity to worked with some of the most talented veterinarians, pathologists, biologists, non profit experts, and journalists. To top it off, I continue to volunteer alongside the most dedicated and passionate volunteers around helping care for our ocean and marine mammals in need. I learn something new every day and each day is different. Some days can be really difficult. We see shockingly high rates of urogenital cancer in sea lions. Malnourished pups. Life threatening entanglements due to marine debris and fishery gear. Emerging diseases that cause anything from seizures to muscle wasting. Vessel strikes impacting whales. But for every difficult day there's many more amazing ones, especially knowing that if we each do our small part we have every reason to be hopeful. We use the term "sentinels" a lot around these parts and it's for good reason. These animals are windows into not only marine mammal health but serve as an early alert system for an increasingly stressed and warm ocean. Each tells a unique story, especially how interconnected we all are. We need to listen and learn. I take tremendous pride in doing so. They are extraordinary.