A San Francisco sea lion who had been tangled in plastic at Pier 39 was released into the wild after a successful rehabilitation at the Marine Mammal Center on Thursday.
Blonde Bomber, as the sea lion was named, was first rescued with a seven-inch loop of plastic packing strip around his neck.
But on Thursday, Bomber returned to the ocean as healthy as ever, stopping at the waves to give his rescuers one last nod.
"It's a happy day for Blond Bomber for sure," said a rescuer. "His luck has changed."
See photos and videos of the rescue below:
Sea Lion Rescue
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