The Marine Mammal Center

Take a trip down memory lane with us to seal-ebrate 50 years 😍 Read stories and memories shared by our community 📖 explore a timeline of highlights from the last five decades 🌟 and watch our special anniversary video ▶️ at https://bit.ly/3zIeVtF. 🎥 Pedal Born Pictures

This afternoon in Emeryville, California, I witnessed a heartbreaking scene unfold at the Waterfront. The Marine Mammal Center, Emeryville Police and Fire Department, East Bay Regional Park District, and local citizens all gathered to watch a minky whale breathe its last breaths. The dedicated men and women of the Marine Mammal Center responded selflessly to this emergency, but unfortunately, their veterinarians made the difficult decision to euthanize the whale. It beached itself in the mud, suffering from severe sunburn and blistering. This was the same whale we had watched swim in the shallow waters near Emeryville for the past week. Late last week, a Good Samaritan reported seeing the whale and thought it was bleeding, but it turned out to be severe sunburn. Today, the whale made its way toward the shoreline, and as the tide went out, it became stranded in the mud. The heroes from the Marine Mammal Center brought veterinarians and specialists to the scene, treating the situation with the same urgency they would for a human in distress. We still don’t know the reason for the whale’s stranding—whether it suffered from an illness or perhaps a vessel strike. Veterinary pathologists collected tissue and blood samples for testing back at the Marine Mammal Center laboratory. A heartfelt thank you to all the women and men at the Marine Mammal Center for doing everything in your power to save this whale. Your commitment and compassion inspire us all. 🐋❤️

🌊 Protect. Restore. Celebrate 🌊 🎉 This weekend, join us at the International Ocean Film Festival at the Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture for impactful programming, including curated, powerhouse panels that dive deep into the stories and science shaping the future of our oceans. 🐋 Panel 1: Stories of Hope: Marine Mammals and Ocean Health in the Bay Area 🐋 Join the experts from The Marine Mammal Center for a hopeful discussion on marine mammals' vital role in our ocean ecosystem. Learn how rescue, rehabilitation, and partnerships are helping protect ocean health for future generations. 🎙️ Moderator: Maria Brown, Superintendent of Cordell Bank & Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries 🌎 Panelists: Dr. Jeff Boehm, Kathi (Koontz) George, Adam Ratner, Dr. Emily Whitmer 🪸 Panel 2: Waves of Change: Plastics, Human Health & the Material Revolution 🪸 This panel explores the science of plastics and their impact on human health, including the global fertility crisis. Learn how "The Material Revolution" is shaping the future of sustainable solutions. 🎙️ Moderator: Lindsay Gordon - Head of Global Programs, Parley for the Oceans 🌎 Panelists: Shanna Swan, PhD, Julia Marsh, Louie Psihoyos, Kahi Pacarro 🌿 Panel 3: Help the Kelp: Solutions for a Changing Climate 🌿 Kelp plays a crucial role in fighting climate change by sequestering carbon and restoring marine ecosystems. This panel explores innovative solutions for kelp's future in ocean conservation. 🎙️ Moderator: Maria Finn, Author & Founder of The Institute for Ecosystem Based Living 🌎 Panelists: Michael Stewart, Natasha Benjamin, Rod Fujita, Michael Esgro 🏄♀️ Panel 4: Sea Change: Surfing, Climate Change, and Ocean Conservation 🏄♀️ From eco-friendly wetsuits to climate action, find out how the surf community fights for ocean health. This panel explores the intersection of surf culture, innovation, storytelling, and ocean conservation. 🎙️ Moderator: Ian Stewart, Marketing Lead, YULEX, A Patagonia Wesuit Partner 🌎 Panelists: Demi Taylor, Dr. Sarah Gerhardt , Chris Nelson, Hub Hubbard Where will these community conversations take us? 🌊 Join us this weekend to be part of the next wave of change 🌟 April 11-13 | Fort Mason Center for the Arts 🎟️ Secure your weekend passes + individual tickets now at the link below! https://lnkd.in/ehB_Ki6w

Sadly, our scientists and partners at California Academy of Sciences report two additional dead gray whale responses, bringing the total in the San Francisco Bay Area since March 30 to three. A necropsy (animal autopsy) was performed on a female gray whale Monday, March 31 at Black Sands Beach in Golden Gate Recreation Area. Today, the joint team plans to perform a necropsy on a male gray whale at Angel Island State Park. The third reported whale is currently unreachable, and may not become accessible for an investigation. More detail will be made available as investigations are finalized by our pathology team. Historical stranding data, an interactive map of our responses from this year, and recent press releases with more detail can be found at https://bit.ly/448YGCz. Please report sightings of whales through the free Whale Alert app or our website, both options available at https://bit.ly/3rLEJMo. 📷 © The Marine Mammal Center, NOAA Permit #26532

So, Kickstart did a do-over. Released on the 5th of March, she was back in our care at The Marine Mammal Center six days later. The kind person who called found her huddled by a building in Pt. Reyes Station. I’ve shared Kickstart's story a few times to bring attention to her plight, all the marine mammals we care for each year, and how that care gives us a window into ocean health. Kickstart covered tens of tough miles of ocean waves swimming around Tomales Point to be found where she was, a couple kilos lighter and raising a flipper to signal she was ready to tap out. We were more than willing to take her in for further care.  We might have as few as one or as many as ten patients “re-strand” each year, which is far fewer than 1% of all those we treat. So, she’s indeed a rare bird. I’m glad to report that we’re ready to release her again! With more weight on her this time and a clean bill of health (again), she’ll break for the ocean waves of West Marin this Friday. Hold a good thought for this little trooper! Kickstart, Klaatu and Cavebear on March 5, 2025. Photo Credit: The Marine Mammal Center #MarineMammals #OneHealth #OceanConservation #SecondChance

Join us at WildCare’s Family Nature Day Saturday, April 26 at Richardson Bay Audubon in Tiburon 🌱🌸🌊 It's FREE for the whole family! Adventure on a naturalist-led hike 🐾 create a wildlife craft 💐 chat with our experts 🚑 and more at this event in honor of Elizabeth Terwilliger or “Mrs. T,” who inspired generations of Marin County residents ☀️ Plan your family nature day now at https://bit.ly/3ZIRNma. 📷 Laura Gill

With a seemingly endless deluge of consequential breaking news it can be easy to lose sight of the seasonal changes occurring and the many points of joy happening all around us. With the onset of spring I am reminded there are many reasons for hope. In recent months I have seen the first seal pup patients admitted to The Marine Mammal Center this year, and the hundreds of volunteers eager to help them recover and return to the wild. Our cetacean researchers saw not only six gray whales in San Francisco Bay, but an active community of boaters from across industries reporting those animals and slowing down for their safety. Our award-winning educators have led hundreds of students in school groups through our hospital and out on the bay, inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards Hope comes also through working with collaborators. I recently spent time with new and existing partners to discuss strategic ways to expand our work together and protect our shared ocean. Before he began his historic speech on the senate floor, which concluded yesterday, I was encouraged by conversations I had over a vegan meal at Twelvemonth with Senator Cory Booker, regarding how to protect our environment. With Alex Schulze, Jack E. Lighton and their team at 4ocean PBC who do a great job removing plastics from the ocean, we dove into solutions for pollution reduction. These conversations along with their actions continue to show me how many people want to get involved to help.    These reflections remind me of a quote from Fred Rogers, lovingly known by many of you as Mr. Rogers, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Despite the uncertainties ahead, I am again and again strengthened by the ever-growing community of change-makers connecting to advocating for our ocean. I hope to see many of you out there on the front lines.  📷 2: Kathi (Koontz) George's whale disentanglement demonstration, photograph courtesy of 4ocean PBC

Seal-ebrate 🦭 April Fool's Day by putting your marine mammal knowledge to the test 🤓 Dive into the trivia questions below, make your best guess then head to our website to see how you did 📝✅ 🔊 What is the loudest animal on earth? 🚰 Do marine mammals drink water? 🦦 How many hairs per square inch does a sea otter have? Don't be a fool! Find the answers at https://bit.ly/440crn6. 📷 Chris Deimler

It was a delight to welcome Alex Schulze, Jack E. Lighton and the team from 4ocean PBC to The Marine Mammal Center last week to revel in our shared passion and enthusiasm for a healthy ocean, and to highlight the complementary ways we creatively and innovatively address its threats. I coincidentally heard this plastics story on our local public radio station, KQED, the morning after celebrating and brainstorming with the team. Plastic is indeed everywhere. But I’m encouraged by the knowledge of 4Ocean’s mighty workforce which is out on the water and the beaches each day to make a real difference, and telling their powerful stories in compelling and winning ways! https://lnkd.in/ggy4Fvg5 Photo of Alex Schulze and the Center's Kathi (Koontz) George at TMMC, credit: 4Ocean #MarineMammals #OneHealth #MarineDebris #OceanConservation

We're proud to share that, thanks to the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation, NNOCCI, we've been selected as a 2025 American Climate Leadership Awards Semifinalist 🏅 Talking about climate change is more difficult than ever 😓 but it's also never been more important. Through science-driven tools and trainings, NNOCCI empowers us to talk about climate solutions for the ecosystem we all share 🌎💪 Find ways to have productive conversations and make a lasting impact in your community 🌱 Sign up for a NNOCCI training today at https://lnkd.in/g-xbbdeh.