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 Intensive
Care Unit |
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Many of the animals admitted to The Center arrive in very
poor condition. The Geoffrey C. Hughes Harbor Seal Hospital
has an intensive care unit for the most critical patients. These
animals are housed in quiet pens that reduce human contact in
an effort to reduce stress. In the ICU, animals can easily get
into and out of individual pools. In addition, a temperature
gradient allows the animals to move to whatever thermal zone
is most comfortable. The intensive care unit also allows staff
and volunteers to monitor animals round-the-clock.
The Center's intensive care unit is also used to care for sea
turtles. Although not marine mammals, The Center does have a
permit to rehabilitate sea turtles. Generally, sea turtles rescued
by The Center are suffering from cold-shock and secondary conditions
such as pneumonia or infections. They are housed in The Center's
intensive care unit where their core temperature is slowly raised
over several days. Once the turtle has been stabilized, it is
transferred to a long-term turtle rehabilitation program.
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