Home sweet home for sea lions, seals

POINT REYES, Calif. (CNN/KRON) - There's nothing like home sweet home. A group of lucky marine mammals are back in their natural habitat off the California coast.

On Tuesday, four California sea lions and five elephant seals were taken off the trucks by Marine Mammal Center volunteers at Point Reyes National Sea Shore.

The sea lions were first. The volunteers lined up the carriers facing the ocean. Krabby Patty was the first to go, followed by Cashew. It took a minute for the pups to get their bearings and realize their freedom was real. Once they got familiar with their surroundings, it was off to the water.

The elephant seals were next on deck. They are not as swift on the land as sea lions, so it took a little longer to get to the water. At first, they just seemed content lying on the beach and soaking up the sun.

The mammals were rescued during the last couple of months from as far south as San Luis Obisbo and as far north as Marin County.

The primary reason for rescue is malnutrition. The Marine Mammal Center has more than 160 patients being treated. That number is up from last year, a year scientists say was "a bad one." The problem is the food source for these animals has changed migration patterns, and many of the young ones are going hungry.

Fortunately for the nine released Tuesday in California, they were rescued and treated until they were strong enough for release back into nature.