LAGUNA BEACH : Injured Sea Lion Back on His Flippers

Kris the sea lion, his bottom jaw pinned together during recent surgery, is gulping down fish, barking at his caretakers and scampering around his pen at the Marine Mammal Center, officials said this week.

Featured in news accounts last month after he washed ashore south of Main Beach, Kris has gained 25 pounds since surgery was performed two weeks ago to repair his jaw, which was apparently broken by a human with a club, said Judi Jones, a center spokeswoman.

“He’s doing real well,” Jones said. “He is very active and he hollers at us to give him more fish. And he doesn’t walk around, he is bounding around. He has almost complete ability to use his jaw and can pick up fish off the floor.”

If he continues to heal at his current pace, Kris--whom officials named after Kris Kringle--will be released next month, Jones said.

When found, the 18-month-old mammal was malnourished, weighing 66 pounds instead of the normal 90 pounds a male sea lion his age should weigh. A male matures at 6 years at a weight of 900 pounds.

He was unable to use his mouth because his jaw hung at a 45-degree angle.

During his recovery, Kris has become a star at the center, drawing many visitors, Jones said.

Kris was one of five sea lions brought to the center last year that were either beaten or shot. Three of those died, while the other healed and was released, Jones said.

Harming a sea lion is a federal crime punishable by a year in prison and a $25,000 fine. No one has been arrested in any of the maimings.