| Key Activities | 🛟 Rescue • 🏥 Rehabilitation • 📚 Public Education |
|---|---|
| Location | Rambla Costanera, 20200 Punta Colorada, Departamento de Maldonado, Uruguay |
| Seal Hotline | +598 94 330 795 (whatsapp preferred) |
| Website | https://linktr.ee/sosfaunamarina |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Species | South American sea lion • South American fur seal |
| Rehab & Release | ✔ |
| Sanctuary | ✖ |
| Open to Public | ✔ |
| How to Help | Donate • Volunteer |
S.O.S. Rescate Fauna Marina was founded by Richard Tesore, who has been caring for orphaned seal lions and fur seals for over 30 years. The NGO started as a small rescue operation for oiled penguins, but grew into something much bigger over time. They operate around the clock, frequently bottle-feeding the eared seal pups who need a lot of care when they are small.
Their center is strategically located at one of Punta Colorada’s two beaches, and includes infirmaries and quarantine areas, rehabilitation pools and outdoor enclosures for semi-captive recovery, where they have cared for thousands of animals. Their eared seal patients specifically often choose their own time to leave once they are in a healthy state and allowed to go outdoors.
S.O.S. Rescate Fauna Marina cares for a variety of animals, among them penguins, seabirds, turtles, and small cetateans. A small museum and guided tours round off their focus on environmental education, and their volunteer programs are inclusive with a special focus on children and people with disabilities.