The State - News from April 14, 1988

An orphaned and blind 3-month-old elephant seal underwent pioneering surgery in Sausalito to remove a cataract clouding the lens of her left eye. The operation on the pup nicknamed “Annie” by her rescuers was only the second such procedure ever performed on an elephant seal. “Everything went fine, everything looks good so far, and we’re optimistic, but it will take a few days to a few weeks--depending on how fast she heals--before we know whether Annie can see,” Dr. Kelly McDonald said after completing the procedure at the California Marine Mammal Center. If the operation is a success, Annie will be freed in the wild within six to eight months.