Astro The Steller Sea Lion
Written by Jeanne Harvey Walker, Illustrated by Shennen Bersani,
Page 1
Astro is not an ordinary sea lion. He is a Steller sea lion.
He lost his mother when he was only a few days old.
No one knows what happened to her.
Luckily, a scientist spotted Astro, hungry and all alone,
on an island off the California coast. The young pup was
brought to The Marine Mammal Center, a place that cares
for sick, hurt, and stranded marine mammals.
Page 2
Astro only weighed 39 pounds (18 kg).
His new friends mixed up a special
smoothie made from ground herring,
salmon oil, and whipping cream.
Astro happily gulped it down as
volunteers bottle-fed him.
When he gained weight,
his friends attached
the bottle to the
fence of his pen
so he could
feed himself.
Page 3
By the time he was 10 months old, Astro was big enough to join other Steller sea lions in the wild where he belonged. A satellite tag was attached to Astro's back so The Marine Mammal Center would be able to track his travels in the ocean. His friends took him to the beach where he had been found and set him free in the surf. Astro paddled into the foam. Then a wave hit him. He didn't know what to do. He was scared and scooted out of the water onto the sand.
Page 4
Astro needed to go into the ocean,
not up on the beach with people.
Would Astro be able to return to the wild?
Was he so young when he was rescued that
he attached to people instead of other sea lions?
Page 5
From far down the beach, Astro's friends watched him.
For the next two days, Astro barely went into the water.
Instead, he joined the elephant seals on the beach.
He was confused. He had not seen the ocean since he
was a few days old. The volunteers were worried he
would starve. When Astro didn't leave the beach,
his friends decided to take him far out into the ocean,
far away from beaches and people.
So, they took Astro back to the Center.
Page 6
The next day, Astro was put on a boat with eight Northern
fur seals to be released in the ocean. The nine marine
mammals and their friends from the Center traveled to the
Farallon Islands, 27 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge.
As the cages were opened for the eight seals, they each
quickly dove into the ocean. Everyone on the boat cheered.
Page 7
When someone opened Astro's cage, Astro didn't move.
His friends waited. Astro still didn't move.
"Go join your pals," urged the boat captain. Astro didn't
budge. His friends tilted the cage. He held on with all
four flippers. Finally, he let go. With a huge splash,
Astro swam deep into the ocean. His friends cheered.
Page 8
But...10 days later, Astro swam under
the Golden Gate Bridge into the San Francisco Bay.
He climbed onto a sandy beach in someone's
backyard- not far from The Marine Mammal Center.
Page 9
Once again, the people from the Center captured Astro and drove him back to his pen. He seemed happy to be back, but his friends were worried. The longer Astro stayed out of the ocean, the harder it would be for him to live in the wild.
Page 10
After a few days, Astro's friends took him to another island. They hoped he would not return to any beaches with people. But, Astro had other plans. Just three days later, he swam under the Golden Gate Bridge into the San Francisco Bay. Just like a dog, he had found his way back.
Page 11
This time he spotted a group of children and their parents on a field next to a school. The people were holding a walk-a-thon to raise money for the school. Astro flopped out of the water and onto the field- he wanted to join in the fun, too! He scooted around the orange cones on the grassy field. He made it all the way around one lap! Everyone cheered for Astro.
Page 12
But the people also knew Astro needed
to return to the ocean. They tried to coax
him towards the bay by pretending their
buckets were full of food and then swinging the
buckets in front of him. Astro didn't leave. He just stayed
in the parking lot. The people called The Marine Mammal Center.
Once again, the volunteers rescued Astro, and returned him
to his pen and saltwater tank.
Page 13
His friends at The Marine Mammal Center were sad,
very sad. They realized that Astro could not live in
the ocean. He had been too young when rescued and
had attached himself to people instead of Steller sea lions.
He would just keep returning to places with people.
Page 14
He could not stay at The Marine Mammal Center
any longer because it is an animal hospital, not a place
to live. Astro's friends made phone calls to find him a
new home. His friends at the Center were thrilled when
the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut said Astro could go there.
Page 15
Astro's first stop was a six-month
stay at the Long Marine Lab at the
University of California in Santa Cruz.
Since Steller sea lions are a threatened
species, the scientists at the lab studied
Astro to learn how to help protect them.
They tested Astro's hearing and looked
at how quickly he processed his food.
Page 16
Astro needed to learn to follow directions. The trainers used a training method called "bridge and target." When Astro learned to touch the trainer's fist (the target) with his nose, the trainer would say "good," (the bridge). Astro connected the "good" with the right behavior. Then the trainer could teach him to follow other directions.
Page 17
Wanting to please the trainers, Astro learned quickly.
Astro was known for his fun personality and liked to
greet schoolchildren who visited the Long Marine Lab.
He loved playing with his toys and took them
into his kennel when he slept.
Page 18
Astro flew in an airplane all the way across the
United States from California to Connecticut.
Page 19
Although his friends at The Marine Mammal Center
and the Long Marine Laboratory wish that Astro could have
returned to the ocean, they are very happy that he has
such a wonderful new home. If you're ever in
Mystic, Connecticut, be sure to visit him.
