Second Sea Lion Rescued by SeaWorld San Diego Dies

Sea lions sickened in the oil spill near Santa Barbara are being rescued and cared for by SeaWorld San Diego.

A second sea lion treated in San Diego after being sickened in the oil spill near Santa Barbara has died. 

The sea lion arrived with three others Sunday evening from the site of the oil spill to be treated by SeaWorld San Diego at their Oiled Wildlife Care Center. The animal was hurt at the Refugio State Beach near Santa Barbara, where a broken oil pipe spilled about 105,000 gallons of oil into the ocean.

The center has 10 sea lions and five elephant seals from the spill area in their care. The conditions of the animals remain guarded as the center assesses their conditions. 

Oil can be damaging to sea lions in that it's irritating to their skin, restricts their ability to thermal regulate and can be toxic if ingested, veterinarians said.

sea lion 2 oil spill

SeaWorld San Diego has deployed three specialists to the site of the spill to help with animal rescue and relief efforts. Assistant curator Mike Price left Monday to help with the spill. 

Earlier this week, a team from the Oiled Wildlife Care Network set up at SeaWorld San Diego and washed and treated oil-soaked birds.

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