Two Guadalupe fur seal pups, named after unique Italian pasta shapes, have made a successful return to the ocean after three months of rehabilitation. The pups, named Campanelli and Orecchiette, were released by a marine wildlife hospital in Washington. They were discovered off the coast of Washington, severely underweight and minimally responsive, and were brought to Sealife Response + Rehab + Research (SR3) in Des Moines.

The pups, a male and a female, were approximately one year old when found. Casey Mclean, the executive director of SR3, described their condition upon arrival. "They came in extremely emaciated and just very sick. They had no energy and were just kind of lifeless. And it took a while and some pretty intensive care at first to get them back up to where they were gaining weight and acting like normal fur seals," Mclean said.

Guadalupe fur seals are native to Guadalupe Island in Mexico, where they breed and give birth annually. However, they can be found along the West Coast, extending as far north as Canada. The release of the pups was a joyous occasion for the staff at SR3. Mclean expressed the excitement of witnessing their return to the wild. "That's the best part of what we do is being able to watch them run free and just run back out into those waves. And they start jumping and diving. And it's just, it's heartwarming to watch them go back out and be part of that ecosystem that we all really value," she said.

SR3 also emphasized the importance of contacting wildlife experts if someone encounters injured marine animals. Mclean advised the public, "One thing we always like to tell the public is, if they see a marine mammal and they're concerned, always call the experts. Don't try and take matters into your own hands. It's dangerous for them and dangerous for the animal because they don't get the care they need."