Whale’s Release a Boon for Center

The odyssey of J.J. the whale, which started almost without hope near Marina del Rey a year ago and concluded triumphantly last week in San Diego, has generated a flood of interest in the Friends of the Sea Lion Marine Mammal Center.

J.J. was named for Judi Jones, the former director of operations at the Laguna Beach animal clinic. She died a few days before the California gray whale was rescued in Los Angeles County and brought to Sea World in San Diego for a dramatic rehabilitation.

“Everyone was very proud to be associated with Sea World and J.J.,” said Ann Bull, current operations director. “When she was released, she took a part of Judi and all of the volunteers here with her.”

When the weather is nice, about 200 people a weekend visit the clinic, which treats sea lions, elephant seals and harbor seals. Since J.J.’s March 31 release, visits are up by one-third and e-mail messages sent to the organization’s World Wide Web site at https://www.fslmmc.org have doubled to about 200 a day, Bull said.

Donations that the nonprofit center relies on to rescue and treat the animals are increasing too, Bull said, but figures are not yet available.

Until now, many visitors were unaware that the 26-year-old Friends of the Sea Lion opened the doors of its converted barn to the public.

Guests can observe the creatures feeding, sunning themselves and frolicking in small pools. Petting is not allowed, even though the animals seem to beg for a pat on the head.

Current guests include 36 sea lions, six elephant seals and one harbor seal. Native to the California coast, most swam ashore when they could not find food. Warm El Nino waters are driving away fish and the mammals have been arriving at the center emaciated, sick and injured.

The center is the only marine mammal care center of its type in Orange County.

Bittersweet feelings among volunteers followed J.J.’s return to the Pacific. Volunteers were indeed proud, but it reminded them of Jones’ death 15 months ago.

“It was very emotional, happy and sad,” Bull said.

Jones, who was 51 and lived in Dana Point, died of complications following gall bladder surgery in January 1997. A registered nurse, she began volunteering at the center in 1983 and took the paid directorship in 1989.

“The whale was not named Judi Jones, it was named J.J. in honor of a woman who dedicated years of her life to the rescue and rehabilitation of sick and injured marine mammals,” said Jim Antrim, Sea World’s general curator.

Since the 31-foot, 19,200-pound cetacean managed to lose her tracking devices, researchers have been unable to pinpoint her location.

Friends of the Sea Lion Marine Mammal Center, 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, is open 10 a.m. to 4 daily. Admission is free.

Information: (714) 494-3050.