Gilligan Goes Home: Sea Lion Rescued From Highway Returns To Ocean After Rehab Stint

SAUSALITO (CBS13) – A sea lion that was rescued from the highway near Lathrop earlier this week has been released back into the ocean after spending four days in rehab in Sausalito, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office announced on Facebook.

The sea lion named Gilligan spent four days in the care of the Marine Mammal Center's Sausalito hospital after being rescued from a stretch of Interstates 5 and 205 on Sunday.

Officials said Gilligan was released back into the ocean at Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands on Wednesday afternoon.

Gilligan going home
Gilligan has made it home! Earlier in the week, we told you about a young, California sea lion that was found off Interstate 5 and 205 near Lathrop. Well, we are happy to report that this little guy spent four days in rehab at the Center's Sausalito Hospital, where he was cared for and checked out to make sure he was healthy. A team of trained responders from The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, successfully released Gilligan back to his ocean home yesterday afternoon, at Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands. The doctors that treated Gilligan believe it is likely Gilligan took a wrong turn in the delta and got lost following a potential food source. The Center's experts would like to remind the public that in an effort to conserve marine mammals, if you come across another Gilligan, please keep a safe distance and call their hotline as soon as possible. The Marine Mammal Center's rescue hotline is 415-289-SEAL (7325).
Posted by San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office on Friday, May 22, 2020

The sheriff's office said doctors believed Gilligan got lost near Lathrop after making a wrong turn in the Delta while following a potential food source.

The mammal center advises anyone who may come across another Gilligan to keep a safe distance and call their hotline at 415-289-SEAL (7325).

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