Yoshi
Struggling to Survive: Northern Elephant Seal Yoshi
Species: Northern elephant seal
Age Class and Sex: Male pup
Date Rescued: April 12, 2024
Rescue Location: Will Rogers Beach in Pacific Palisades
Diagnosis: Malnourishment
Date Released: June 6, 2024
Northern elephant seal pup Yoshi was rescued from Will Rogers Beach in Pacific Palisades. At his intake exam, our veterinary experts determined that he was underweight and malnourished.
Although Yoshi was already several months old when he was rescued, he didn’t weigh much more than a newborn pup! Northern elephant seals wean after about a month of nursing with their mothers, which means Yoshi may have been struggling to find food on his own.
During his first few days at our hospital, Yoshi was fed a “fish smoothie” made from mashed up fish and fish oil. Then our animal care team started transitioning him to eating whole fish.
After about a week in care, Yoshi was eating fish on his own. Once he gained a healthy amount of weight, he was given the green light to return to his ocean home. About two months after he was rescued, Yoshi was released at Cabrillo Beach along with another elephant seal pup named Penelope.
Northern elephant seal pups like Yoshi sometimes struggle to find food on their own after weaning. Without help, they are unable to thrive in the wild. Support from compassionate people like you enables our experts to rescue and care for these vulnerable young animals. Will you help ensure patients like Yoshi get the nutritious meals they need to return to the wild?
