| Key Activities | 🛟 Rescue • 🏥 Rehabilitation • 📚 Public Education • 🧪 Research |
|---|---|
| Location | Museu Oceanográfico Prof. Eliezer de Carvalho Rios Av. Itália, km 8 – Campus Carreiros Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG) Rio Grande, RS – Brazil CEP: 96201-900, Brasil |
| Seal Hotline | +55 (53) 3233-6600 |
| Website | https://museu.furg.br/centros-associados/cram |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Species | South American sea lion • South American fur seal |
| Rehab & Release | âś” |
| Sanctuary | âś” |
| Open to Public | âś” |
| How to Help | n/a |
Founded in 1974 by oceanographer Lauro Barcellos, CRAM-FURG is Brazil’s oldest and most hands-on marine mammal rehabilitation center. It began as a grassroots effort to save injured and stranded animals along the southern coast and has grown into a nationally recognized institution with modern facilities and expert staff.
CRAM-FURG provides long-term care for sick and injured marine animals, including seals and sea lions, which are frequently found entangled in fishing gear or suffering from pollution-related injuries. The center features specialized tanks, oil decontamination areas, and veterinary support for complex cases. Animals are rehabilitated with the goal of release, though some non-releasable individuals remain under care for educational purposes.
Visitors can tour the facility and observe the rehabilitation process, making CRAM-FURG a rare example of a public-facing marine mammal rescue center in South America. It also collaborates with international organizations and universities to advance marine conservation and veterinary science.
CRAM-FURG is part of the Oceanographic Museum of FURG and continues to be a beacon of hope for marine wildlife affected by human activity.