Sea lions rescued from Katrina are at home in the Bahamas

After going on a California sea lion encounter with a tour company on the island of Nassau in the Bahamas, travel writer Terry Gardner writes that the experience was heightened by the creatures' connection to Hurricane Katrina:

The sea lions' ordeal began three years ago when Katrina destroyed the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, Miss.

Nineteen sea lions and one seal were left behind at the facility, which was destroyed. After the storm, sea lions were recovered from as far as 20 miles away. At least five died during the storm or from storm-related injuries. The seal was never found. Sea World Orlando provided temporary housing for the survivors until an old friend provided a permanent sanctuary in 2006.

Kim Terrell, marine mammal director at Dolphin Encounters, is pictured above with Murray, a Katrina refugee. For $80, visitors can frolic with Murray or one of five other California sea lions on a tour that includes a scenic catamaran trip and a 15-minute crash course in sea lion conservation.

-- Tony Barboza

Photo: Tim Aylen / Associated Press