The Marine Mammal Center began in 1975, rescuing sick and injured marine mammals along the California coastline. Since those humble beginnings more than 30 years ago, the Center has transformed into a veterinary teaching hospital that integrates day-to-day rescue and rehabilitation work with that of scientific research that explores the connections between marine mammal disease and ocean and human health. Over 800 individuals from all ages and walks of life currently volunteer for the Center, performing duties such as feeding animal patients, rescuing sick and injured animals, and teaching visiting school children about marine mammals. The Center also offers multi-faceted public education programs that have reached over 500,000 school children and that actively encourage them to become stewards of our shared oceans. For more information about our local and world-wide efforts, please visit www.MarineMammalCenter.org