Sea Lions Injured In Chlorine Poisoning Released Back Into The Ocean

LAGUNA BEACH (CBSLA.com) — More than a dozen sea lions injured in a chlorine attack at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center were released back into the ocean Tuesday in Laguna Beach after have been nursed back to health.

Seventeen rescued sea lions that had been treated for various injuries were injured in late April after someone dumped chlorine into the filtration system of one of the pools.

Fourteen of those lions were released in front of the white lifeguard tower at Main Beach as a day of celebration for everyone involved in the 2015 sea lion crisis, from volunteers, animal care specialists and the entire team at Pacific Marine Mammal Center, officials said.

It marked the largest number of sea lions the center has ever released at one time, according to spokeswoman Mary Beth Steen.

So far this year, the Center has rescued 472 sea lions, more than double their average through May, said Steen.

The center reaches capacity at 125 sea lions and they have reached that point for the past couple of months, Steen added.

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)