A sea lion named Freedom released from San Pedro into the wild – The Daily Breeze

The gill net that was removed from the sea lions neck a the Marine Mammal Care Center, San Pedro.

Freedom was treated at the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro for a gill net injury and was released back into the wild on Wednesday, Nov. 3, Election Day.

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Freedom, a sea lion found on Redondo Beach in August with a severe gill net injury, is taken in to the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro where he underwent treatment and rehabilitation. He was released back into the ocean on Wednesday, Nov. 3, Election Day.

Freedom heads for the ocean in San Pedro, his scars still visible from a gill net injury.

Marine Mammal Care staff members Kelsey Wong, left, and Mike Remski release Freedom, a sea lion that was injured in a gill net and nursed back to health at the center in San Pedro. The yearling was released at Royal Palms in San Pedro on Wednesday, Nov. 3, Election Day, earning him the special name.

Scars from his wounds were still visible when the sea lion named Freedom was sent back to his ocean home in San Pedro earlier this week. They will be with him for life.

But he was among the lucky ones.

When the Marine Animal Rescue found Freedom in August on the sands of Redondo Beach, the sea lion was severely malnourished and entangled in a gill net.

Sea lions are very playful and almost have kind of a dog-like behavior, said Amber Becerra, president of the Marine Mammal Care Centers Board of Directors. They see things like that almost as a toy and start playing with it.

The small yearling between 1 and 2 years old had a deep laceration and open wound when he arrived at the center. He was in need of bandages and antibiotics to prevent against infection.

We never know if an animal is going to make it or not, especially if theyre malnourished, Becerra said. There may be underlying conditions we dont know about, but in this particular case, this guy came back pretty quickly and the wound healed nicely.

But Freedom has a significant scar dish that could pose restrictions on the sea lions ability to move and forage for food, said Lauren Palmer, the centers veterinarian. So his ultimate prognosis is unclear.

An experimental surgery developed by the centers veterinarian surgeon, Tammy De Costa Gomez, was considered to try to remove some of that tissue. But it was ruled out as too risky, after the sea lion didnt stabilize well under anesthesia during a test run.

So as he grows older, that band of scar tissue could remain tight and pose mobility restrictions; but it also could stretch with him as he grows, Becerra said.

Were hopeful for the best and (the veterinarians) thought hed have a good chance for survival, Becerra said.

Many marine mammals that become entangled in nets die of starvation, infection and a lack of mobility, Becerra said.

While the animals that come in for treatment at the Marine Mammal Care Center arent typically named, Becerra said, some are given farewell monikers.

Since this one was released at Royal Palms Beach, in San Pedro, on Tuesday, Nov. 3 Election Day Freedom seemed appropriate, she said.

We usually dont name the animals; we dont want the staff to get too attached, Becerra said. But when we realized we were releasing him on Election Day, we thought we should name him something pertinent.

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A sea lion named Freedom released from San Pedro into the wild - The Daily Breeze