Peripatetic pinniped back at SeaWorld San Diego

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ZC8141B is back at SeaWorld San Diego.

The year-old California sea lion was found early today in the parking lot of a restaurant in the Flower Hill shopping center just east of Interstate 5 in the northern reach of San Diego.

The wayward marine mammal is being examined by the veterinarians at SeaWorld and being given some fluids. A plan for its re-release into the wild is in the works.

The sea lion first was brought to SeaWorld on Feb. 8 when it came ashore at Solana Beach and seemed to be in distress. Given a ‘rescue number,’ it was fattened up and then, on Feb. 27, released about 10 miles off Mission Beach.

Just how came to be in the parking lot at Chevy’s Fresh Mex restaurant is unclear. Possibly by swimming upstream in the San Dieguito Lagoon, which is behind the shopping center.

Late-night diners spotted the mammal and called police, who called the SeaWorld rescue squad.

--Tony Perry, San Diego