Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles

Marine mammal response: mmcc-la rescues and respondes to marine mammals along the entire coast of los angeles county including catalina island. The number of animals the marine mammal care center responds to and rescues each year varies, but recent trends indicate that strandings will continue to increase, with cyclical spikes occurring more frequently. Causes of strandings include toxicity from harmful algal blooms, malnutrition, infectious diseases, and entanglements, among other threats. On average, we respond to 750-1,000 reports of marine mammals in distress and rescue and rehabilitate anywhere from 250-500 animals each year. Additionally, in 2023, mmcc-la joined noaa's large whale entanglement response network to help save the growing number of whales entangled in fishing gear that traverse our coastline.

Education and community engagement: the marine mammal care center's education programs provide virtual and in-person learning opportunities for k-12 schools, community organizations, conservation partners, and the general public. Our programs are designed to be inquiry-driven and learner-centric, emphasizing the important role that people play in environmental stewardship. The center is also a unique training ground for veterinary and animal care professionals -- combining hands-on practical experience, innovative medicine, and meaningful professional collaboration between our staff and visiting veterinary and marine science students, interns, and residents with a high-quality animal care focus. Veterinary professionals and students can apply for competitive internships or externships that provide professional training alongside experts onsite at our hospital. As a conservation organization, marine mammal care center goes beyond informing the community to take meaningful action. At the core of our work is the recognition that our mission cannot be achieved without the public's understanding, commitment, and participation. We share information while creating experiences that motivate, inspire, and equip people to take concrete actions to protect the ocean and marine mammals.