A brown pelican has been released back into the wild after a successful rehabilitation by SeaWorld San Diego’s animal rescue center.
The pelican had been brought in with cloudy eyes that occluded his vision. The issue was determined by doctors to be treatable with medication and eye drops, which proved to be effective.
Within a month, the pelican’s vision fully cleared, enabling him to return to his natural habitat. He was taken to La Jolla Cove and released to join pelican colonies on the cliffs there.
According to SeaWorld, its rescue teams — which are partnered with multiple government agencies, such as NOAA — have aided more than 42,000 sick, injured, or orphaned animals since the theme parks first opened in 1964.
