Money for mammals

Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) will receive a $20,000 gift from

the Royal Caribbean International/Celebrity Cruises Ocean Fund grant.

The funding is earmarked for renovations to the Center’s marine

mammal pools and enclosures.

“We are touched and honored to have been chosen as the recipient

of such a generous gift and we are grateful the Ocean Fund selected

us as an award beneficiary. The Ocean Fund’s dedication to

philanthropy will facilitate a lasting influence on the health of the

marine environment,” said Emily Wing, PMMC director of development

and marketing.

“Our existing pools are over 20 years old and this gift will make

a tremendous impact on thousands of our marine mammal patients for

many years to come.”

Wing traveled to Miami last week to accept the gift. Pacific

Marine Mammal Center was among 11 ocean-related nonprofit

organizations honored at the grants luncheon. There has been a

substantial increase in the number of stranded marine mammals treated

at Pacific Marine Mammal Center since 1997, a trend that does not

appear to be subsiding, according to PMMC officials.

PMMC treats an average of 125 animals each year, but recent

environmental episodes affecting marine mammals have increased the

patient load dramatically, bringing the number to approximately 250

per year in the past couple of years. The increase in patient load

has put a greater strain on the existing pool system.

“The pool and enclosure renovation project will greatly improve

the efficiency of our animal care operation,” said Michele Hunter,

director of operations for the animal care unit.

“The larger pools will provide improved physical conditioning for

the animals prior to their release and will be equipped with a

sloping ramp to provide easier access in emergency situations,”

Hunter said. “With the new pools and enclosures, coupled with the new

pool filtration system, we will be able to provide a consistently

healthy environment for the seals and sea lions in our care.”

“Pacific Marine Mammal Center has a 34-year track record in

rehabilitating sick and injured seals, sea lions, dolphins and

whales,” said Leslie Katz, the cruise lines’ Ocean Fund program

manager. “We are pleased to support an organization with such a long

and successful track record, and one that’s doing so much to educate

the public about the fragile marine environment and the creatures

that live in it.”

Established in 1971 as Friends of the Sea Lion, Pacific Marine

Mammal Center is among the forerunners in marine mammal

rehabilitation science. The Center’s founding preceded the

institution of the Marine Mammal Protection Act by one year. .

PMMC is the designated holding facility for stranded cetaceans --

the larger ocean mammals -- in Orange and Los Angeles Counties.

Pacific Marine Mammal Center is a nonprofit organization with a

mission to rescue, medically treat, and rehabilitate cetaceans and

pinnipeds -- ocean mammals with flippers -- that strand along the

Orange County coastline due to injury or illness; to release healthy

marine mammals back to their natural habitat; and to increase public

awareness of the marine environment through education and research.

The Royal Caribbean International/Celebrity Cruises Ocean Fund was

established in 1996 to support marine conservation organizations in

their efforts to preserve the world’s oceans. A total of $6.6 million

has been awarded to since the fund’s inception.

Pacific Marine Mammal Center is located in the large red barn at

20612 Laguna Canyon Road. The Center and gift shop are open to the

public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For more information, contact

Wing (949) 494-3050 or visit Pacific Marine Mammal Center on the web

at www.pacificm mc.org.