We snapped some beautiful photos of this adorable sea lion pup, who we named Julius, on the rocks of Laguna Beach, California. He’s inspired a series of photography prints titled, ‘Operation Julius,’ which will benefit Pacific Marine Mammal Center. The proceeds of products sold will help provide aid for the increase in baby sea lions that have washed up on California’s coast this year.

Julius is one of 3,000 sea lion pups that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported stranded on California’s coast this year—that’s 17-times the norm.

This phenomenon is being attributed to the lack of upwelling; the warmer waters are pushing prey further and deeper for foraging moms. Mothers are leaving their rookeries for as long as a week in search of food and many don’t return. This forces hungry pups to venture out on their own, with many washing up on our shores. Almost all of our marine mammal centers are at capacity and the NOAA anticipates this issue will continue next year.

We’ve chosen to donate proceeds from ‘Operation Julius’ to Pacific Marine Mammal Center, a nonprofit that “rescues, rehabilitates and releases marine mammals and inspires ocean stewardship through research, education and collaboration.” Your contribution will help provide fish and and medicine for sick and injured patients and resources for their research and educational programs.

 

$1 buys 1 lb. of fish

 

If you see a stranded marine mammal here’s how to report it.

 

Why is this important?

This isn’t simply about saving cute cuddly sea lions—although, they are adorable. We’ve got one planet and some major pollution problems. The ocean covers 71% of the earth. Among other things, that mass of water is why you and I breathe oxygen. Somewhere along the line, separation of church and state detached us from mother nature. Huge problem.

We are part of nature.

This is about saving our planet. Saving our future.

We’re all in this together. Let’s stand for One.

xo, SP