NEWS
By Bryce Alderton | May 1, 2014
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is again seeing an influx of malnourished sea lion pups at its Laguna Canyon facility, center officials announced in a news release. As of Wednesday, the facility had 100 sea lions in captivity, close to capacity. Last year saw a record number of sea lions at more than 370, the release said. "The sea lion pups we are seeing are exhibiting very similar conditions to last year," Executive Director Keith Matassa said in the release. "Many pups are malnourished and dehydrated with low body weight.
NEWS
By Bryce Alderton | January 9, 2014
Whizzing drills and pounding hammers have mostly replaced yelping sea lions these days at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Staff and volunteers who help rehabilitate sick and injured pinnipeds were caring for only three sea lions the first week of the new year, a far cry from the hundreds in the first half of 2013. The Laguna Canyon Road center is embarking on an expansion that will add a new intensive care unit, public restroom, multipurpose room and an observation deck. Crews have been putting down roofing shingles, painting outdoor trim and preparing to install drywall.
NEWS
April 4, 2013
Last month, former Arizona Representative Gabby Giffords, her husband Mark Kelly and his daughter were vacationing in Laguna Beach when Kelly's daughter's dog escaped from its owner and attacked and killed a young California sea lion pup, devastating Kelly's daughter and many beach goers who witnessed the tragic event. My first thought was "Why was the dog so close?" Then I thought, "Are there really that many sick sea lions that they are willing to risk coming in contact with humans just to get some needed rest?"
NEWS
By Bryce Alderton | February 11, 2013
A trend of sea lion pups becoming malnourished along the Orange County coast has led to an uptick in the number of animals admitted to a local marine mammal center, according to experts. As of Monday, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center on Laguna Canyon Road is caring for 38 sea lions, up from six in January 2012, said Melissa Sciacca, the center's director of development. Ten of those 38 animals were delivered from another marine life center. All of the sea lions are pups between six to seven months old that are trying to wean from their mothers, Sciacca said.
NEWS
By Britney Barnes | November 27, 2012
Only in Laguna do carolers compete with the sounds of the waves, children sit on Santa's lap as the sun sets over the Pacific and holiday-goers need nothing more than a light sweater in the snow. Montage Laguna Beach celebrated its third annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Community Open House on Monday evening with live music, warm drinks and, of course, a visit from Santa. "I thought it was beautiful - a California Christmas," said Laura Orlich, of Tucson, who was visiting family.
NEWS
By Joanna Clay, joanna.clay@latimes.com | August 4, 2011
Forty years ago, John Cunningham and Jim Stauffer opened Friends of the Sea Lion for a simple reason: They were running out of space. Stauffer and Cunningham, both Laguna Beach lifeguards at the time, were rescuing sea lions and putting them in Stauffer's backyard. They built a pool, fed the mammals and nursed them back to health. Decades later, Friends of the Sea Lion, which is now called the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, is the main marine rescue facility in Orange County.
NEWS
By Joanna Clay, joanna.clay@latimes.com | June 9, 2011
Game show veteran Bob Barker came to the Pacific Mammal Center on Wednesday to celebrate the official reopening of its visitor's center and release a seal — aptly named Barker — back into the wild. "I must confess that the most exciting thing is Barker," he told the crowd, referring to his namesake seal. "I was astounded at the family resemblance. I have relatives that look a great deal like her. " The price couldn't have been more right when Barker donated $250,000 to the Pacific Mammal Center earlier this year, allowing the center to reopen its doors after the December floods ravaged it. The center is the only rescue center in Orange County for marine mammals.
NEWS
By Joanna Clay, joanna.clay@latimes.com | June 9, 2011
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach last week rescued an elephant seal pup in Seal Beach, which SeaWorld had rehabilitated. Melissa Sciacca, director of development and marketing at the center, said the incident wasn't cause for concern. The seal, named Safari, was found weighing 92 pounds at 5 months old, and was described as lethargic, with feathers in his mouth. The center is investigating what caused Safari to become stranded. A tag designated the pup as coming from SeaWorld San Diego, according to Sciacca.
NEWS
By Joanna Clay, joanna.clay@latimes.com | May 5, 2011
Laguna local Arno Chauvel has lost his battle with bone cancer. His friend, Joe Ferguson, set up a blog for Chauvel in March, when he was first admitted to the hospital. Since then, memories and photographs have flooded the site, revealing a man with a passion for life and travel, and a happy marriage with Suzi Chauvel. He died April 19 at age 60. Arno Chauvel was born Oct. 8, 1950, in Tulare, Calif. He met his wife while at the University of the Pacific, where he received a doctorate in pharmacology, according to his sister-in-law.
NEWS
By Cindy Frazier, cindy.frazier@latimes.com | January 13, 2011
Former TV game show host and animal rights activist Bob Barker has pledged a $250,000 donation to help the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach recover from a devastating Dec. 22 flood. Barker is the former host of "The Price is Right," and has contributed to anti-whaling efforts and other animal advocacy groups. The center was inundated early on Dec. 22 when Laguna Creek overflowed during an intense downpour following six days of precipitation. Three marine mammals — a sea lion and two elephant seals — were rescued after waters in the barn in which they were placed rose to about four feet in depth.