YOUR
IMPACT
REPORT

The rescues of Luna and Tofino mark a historic moment for VAMMR. For the first time, we faced the challenge of caring for two sea otter pups simultaneously: an immense responsibility made possible by the generosity of our community.

Within weeks of each other, these two sea otter pups arrived in critical condition, completely dependent on around-the-clock care. Sea otter pups rely on their mothers for survival since they cannot swim, hunt, or regulate their body temperature when they are born. Without immediate intervention, their chances of survival were slim.

We knew that providing this extraordinary level of care would require additional resources, so we put out a call for support. Donations poured in — from symbolic adoptions to major gifts — helping to fund the intensive care that Luna and Tofino desperately needed.

For nine weeks, our team of staff and volunteers worked tirelessly, providing over 4,000 hours of care, feeding them every 1.5 to 3 hours, grooming, and guiding them through sessions in the pool. The effort was enormous, but thanks to the outpouring of support from our community, we were able to meet the challenge.

Today, Luna and Tofino are thriving — a testament to the compassion and generosity of people like you. Your support made it possible for us to rise to the occasion and provide the care that saved their lives.

In October 2023, our Disentanglement Program marked a decade of rescuing sea lions from life-threatening entanglements along the British Columbia coast. With an estimated 400 sea lions affected by marine debris each year, the need for this important work is ongoing.

Thanks to our partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the support of our donors over the last decade, the program has successfully freed 29 sea lions from entanglement. This advanced rescue work is only possible using a pioneering technique developed by our team: a precise anesthetic drug combination delivered via dart which allows the animal to be handled long enough to remove the ghost gear or debris threatening its life. Dr. Martin Haulena is the only veterinarian in Canada — and one of the few in the world — able to perform this specialized procedure.

A SECOND CHANCE FOR TUCK

One of the animals saved this past year was Tuck, a California sea lion found near Race Rocks Ecological Reserve with a deep wound caused by a piece of monofilament netting. Tuck had likely been suffering for years.

During a carefully executed rescue, our team removed the netting, treated his injuries, and watched as he swam away, free from the debris that had threatened his life. Weeks later, we received an update that Tuck had been spotted thriving, his wounds healing, and his condition greatly improved.

Moira, a loggerhead sea turtle, was found near Pedder Bay, far from her normal warm-water habitat and barely clinging to life. Cold-stunned and unable to move, she was in critical condition. Sea turtles rely on their environment to regulate body temperature, and prolonged exposure to cold water causes their systems to shut down. When marine scientist Anna Hall and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) alerted our team to Moira’s situation, we knew she needed immediate help.

At the Rescue Centre, our team provided Moira with specialized treatment. We carefully increased her body temperature one degree at a time, stabilizing her condition. After her initial recovery, she was transferred to a warm-water quarantine pool at the Vancouver Aquarium, where her rehabilitation continued. Then, on October 21, after eight months of dedicated care, Moira traveled to San Diego where she was released into warmer waters on October 22!

Moira’s case is one of only a few recorded loggerhead sightings in British Columbia, highlighting the growing challenges marine wildlife face in our rapidly changing oceans. As the only facility in Canada capable of providing the specialized care she needed, we rely on the generosity of people like you to continue this valuable work.

Moira was outfitted with a satellite tracker before being released and you can continue to follow her journey by viewing the tracking map: https://tracking.mmrpatients.org/patients/moira/

At VAMMR, our work extends beyond rescue — we are also leaders in marine mammal health research. This year, our team published six peer-reviewed studies, including important research on harbour seal anesthesia and on the causes of seal mortality along the B.C. coast.

What makes this research even more meaningful is that many of the lead authors and co-authors are past Veterinary Fellows from VAMMR and the Vancouver Aquarium. Our Veterinary Fellowship Program offers talented young veterinarians a unique, hands-on opportunity to gain specialized experience in aquatic medicine. Over the course of a year, each Fellow works alongside our team, contributing to essential research while honing their skills in marine mammal medicine.

This program is not only shaping the future of marine veterinary medicine, but also ensuring we remain at the forefront of global efforts to protect marine life.

In May 2024, Gustav became one of the first patients of the year at our Rescue Centre. Just hours after his birth, he was found struggling to stay afloat near the docks at Mosquito Creek Marina in North Vancouver, with his placenta still attached.

With no mother in sight and completely helpless, Gustav was in urgent need of care. A concerned contractor alerted our rescue team, who immediately transported Gustav to the Centre for urgent treatment.

Over the following months, our dedicated staff worked tirelessly to nurse Gustav back to health. Though his progress was slow at first, his strength gradually returned, and by
September 20, after months of rehabilitation, Gustav was ready to be released back into the wild.

Gustav’s journey is one of many that include care at the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre. As Canada’s only facility of its kind, every rescue reflects the collaborative efforts of our team, volunteers, and supporters, all committed to giving marine animals a second chance at life.