Animal rescue specialists at SeaWorld reported that an elephant seal and two sea lions died May 29 following the Refugio State Beach oil spill near Santa Barbara, bringing to five the number of marine mammals affected by the spill. Five elephant seals and 17 sea lions are currently in the care of SeaWorld’s Oiled Wildlife Care Center Three team members from SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue Team, each with specialized training to rescue and treat oiled wildlife, are deployed to assist with recovery efforts at the spill zone. Lauren DuBois, SeaWorld’s assistant curator of birds, left May 31 for the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center in San Pedro to assist with the rehabilitation efforts for birds affected by the spill. A burst pipeline released 101,000 gallons of crude into the Pacific Ocean and under the 101 Freeway May 19. The pipeline transports crude oil from Las Flores to Gaviota and then to refineries throughout Southern California. It remains shut down while federal regulators investigate the cause of the failure. The break prompted Ventura County residents to gather in Oxnard May 30 in a protest against drilling and fracking.
