A severely underweight California sea lion pup was rescued after being found crossing a roadway in Brisbane, south of San Francisco, and heading toward a Highway 101 freeway ramp.
An off-duty Brisbane police officer first spotted the animal and used his personal vehicle to slow traffic while police secured the scene. Officers prevented the sea lion from entering traffic until specialists from The Marine Mammal Center arrived and transported the pup to their veterinary hospital for treatment and rehabilitation. The center said the animal was dangerously thin and likely just under a year old.
Rescuers said they had been tracking sightings of the same sea lion for several days in shoreline areas before the encounter. The incident also follows a similar case just weeks earlier, when another sea lion pup was found wandering the streets of San Francisco near the beach.
This young sea lion’s close call with traffic highlights how vulnerable marine animals can end up in dangerous situations as human activity and changing ocean conditions continue to disrupt wildlife habitats. Thanks to the quick response from police and rescuers, this young sea lion now has a chance to recover and thrive once again.
