This the third and final chapter in my trilogy about the capture, rehabilitation and release of a young sea lion who was severely bitten by a shark.

Back in May, I spotted the young pinniped while I was fishing. It had deep shark bite wounds with pieces of flesh torn loose.

I wrote a story about it for Noozhawk, and the Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute (CIMWI) read the article.

CIMWI went out and captured the wounded animal and began healing and rehabilitating it at its amazing facility on the Gaviota Coast.

They kindly invited me to tour their facility, and I got to see how they were taking great care of the shark-bit sea lion, now dubbed #70 during the intake process.

I was deeply impressed and wrote a second article for Noozhawk about the tremendous rehabilitation care #70 was receiving and the great work being done by CIMW.

After roughly two months, the shark-bite wounds healed nicely, the critter had put on 32.6 pounds (almost a 50% weight gain), and was fully prepped for release.

I was kindly asked to go along for the release on an Island Packers boat. Those folks provide a kind service for CIMWE when critters are ready for release.

I boarded Island Explorer at Island Packers in Ventura, along with CIMWE volunteers Dr. Kristi Gibbs and her delightful mother Belinda Gibbs, and of course our two critters #70 and #62, both of whom had healed, put on weight and earned their way through the rehabilitation process.

The boat cruised along the back (south) side of Santa Cruz Island, and we were treated to numerous sightings of flying fish in the warm water being pushed northward by hurricanes and tropical storms to the south.

he grand moment was watching a common dolphin leap three feet out of the water and catch a flying fish in the air. That was nature at its finest.

Passengers disembarked at Santa Rosa Island, then the crew took us and the sea lions toward Carrington Point where we successfully released both critters.

They both took to the water and cavorted happily before swimming off together toward the rocky shoreline that is their natural habitat.

After we all cheered them on, the crew put us on the pier at Bechers Bay on Santa Rosa Island, and we had a few hours to hike and explore the island which is part of the Channel Islands National Park.

I found a picturesque little waterway and a very comfy shade tree.

Then the Island Explorer picked us all up and we cruised back to Ventura with stops at Painted Cave, Prisoner’s Harbor and the new pier at Scorpions. We lucked out with weather and sea state, and we shared the feeling that it was a truly blessed day.

I want to express my deep gratitude for the service to our wildlife capably provided by CIMWE staff and volunteers including Ruth and Sam Dover, Jenn Levine-,Griffiths, Dr. Kristi and Belinda Gibbs, and numerous other enthusiastic volunteers.

I suggest my readers support their good works by visiting their website and clicking on Ways to Help. They need financial help to keep the critters fed and volunteer help to care for them.