At the center, they receive specialized veterinary care: they are diagnosed, treated, rehabilitated and ideally, released back into the wild.

[1] The research team consists of veterinarians and biologists who conduct not only medical diagnosis and intervention, but also publish scientific reports on marine animal health in relation to the Pacific Ocean’s environmental chemistry.

The center collaborates with counterparts around the world (most notably from England, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Scotland, the Netherlands, France and Germany) in working on complex cases, and also researches the interactions of ocean-dwelling mammals with the marine environment in collaboration with other institutions.

Researchers at TMMC have discovered that domoic acid (DA) is the causative agent responsible for illness in a great many California sea lions.

When consumed by marine mammals, DA activates neural pathways in the brain, specifically, the hippocampus.

Also being investigated is the increased incidence of leptospirosis, a bacterial pathogen that can acutely damage the kidneys of marine mammals.

The education outreach program reaches in excess of 100,000 school children and adults each year, emphasizing the human connection to the marine environment.

In the summer time, the center rescues mostly California sea lions that are approximately 1 year old and have struggled to find food on their own, or adults suffering from different diseases, such as domoic acid toxicosis, leptospirosis or cancer.

The center also rescues approximately 80–100 animals each year due to negative human interaction, such as entanglement in plastic or fishing gear, ingestion of trash, harassment on the beach and even gunshot wounds.

At the center, volunteers and veterinarians provide round-the-clock care for the patients to help them recover, ranging from administering medication and food to patients, teaching young seals to catch and eat fish, and performing medical procedures like x-rays, surgeries and ultrasounds.

If an animal has been released on two occasions and returns both times, it may have become habituated with people and is no longer capable of fending for itself.

[3] Facilities include the Marin Headlands headquarters and field stations in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Anchor Bay and Fort Bragg.

The center's animal rescue radius is along the Pacific Coast of California and comprises approximately 600 square miles, between San Luis Obispo and Mendocino.

Portions of the site, including three Nike Hercules missiles, can be visited through the Golden Gate National Park Service on limited days and hours.

The exterior remains unchanged, but it is now part of the Harbor Seal Hospital and also holds a surgical suite.

Its operation is reliant on several hundred volunteers who are trained in rescue, release, animal care and education.

In 2009, a lack of available fish related to the El Nino weather pattern brought 1,750 patients to TMMC, more than in any other year since it opened.

In the spring of 2013, environmental conditions limited to Southern California resulted in a higher than normal number of sea lion strandings.

The Marine Mammal Center began in 1975 with bath tubs and small pools surrounded by a fence.

In December 2005, a large female humpback whale was rescued off of the Farallon Islands, after she became entangled in crab pot lines during her migration, most likely to wintering grounds near Mexico.

Each excursion resulted in dramatic estuarine rescues in 1985 and 1990 by the center, assisted by the United States Coast Guard and hundreds of volunteers.

The first rescue was actually to turn Humphrey around in the Sacramento River, while the second was to move him back into the water from the mudflats north of Sierra Point below the Dakin Building.

Nevis had major reconstructive surgery to close the opening in his face created by the entry and exit of the shotgun slug.

On October 15, 2010, the Sutter County District Attorney's Office announced the successful criminal prosecution of a fisherman for the shooting of Sgt.

He was convicted of intentionally maiming or wounding a living animal, in violation of California Penal Code Section 597.

[11] He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $51,081.48 to TMMC, toward the expenses of treating Sgt.

Sound Designer David Farmer had, coincidentally, visited the center during elephant seal pupping season and was suitably impressed.