Name That Sea Lion

Updated 10:17 PM EDT, Tue, Jul 28, 2009

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Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration has a problem and they need your help to fix it.

The facility has just taken in three California sea lion pups, but the little guys don't have names. The aquarium is holding a contest to find names for the one male and two female sea lions.

They're asking the public to go the the Mystic Aquarium Web site to submit ideas for names through Aug. 12.

The male pup was approximately 6-months-old when he was rescued in Morro Bay Harbor in San Luis Obispo County in California, and brought to The Marine Mammal Center in December 2008, according to a release from Mystic Aquarium.

He was treated for malnutrition and pneumonia and released back into the wild, but re-stranded several times and was found surrounded by people. Even after being relocated, the pup found his way back to Morro Bay, where he remained for several days and lost more weight.

The two female pups come from SeaWorld San Diego’s Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Program. One was rescued in February at Ocean Beach in San Diego, and the other was rescued from Oceanside Harbor in Oceanside in January. Both pups were malnourished and dehydrated. All three recovered well during rehabilitation and were brought to the aquarium for enhancement of the species.

A group of judges and the aquarium staff will narrow down the suggestions to five finalist names for each pup. Then the public can go back online from Aug. 14-24 to vote for their favorites.

The winning names will be announced during the pups' first birthday party on August 27.