Jasmine Jaksic: Rescue at Pacific Grove

A nature excursion for Jasmine Jaksic and her son resulted in a hands-on lesson about our role as stewards of our natural environment.

On a serene Saturday afternoon, my five-year-old son Oliver and I found ourselves on the shores of Pacific Grove for an impromptu weekend escape. The ocean floor teemed with a kaleidoscope of marine wonders: purple sea urchins, orange bat stars, and verdant anemones danced beneath the clear surface. While I traced the intricate patterns adorning chitons, Oliver’s gaze fixated on a distant figure.

Following his line of sight, I spotted a stranded sea lion mere feet away, its distress palpable even to our untrained eyes. A quick search led me to contact ‘The Marine Mammal Center’, providing them with photos and coordinates in the hope of assistance. Their response was swift but tinged with uncertainty, the animal’s precarious location presented a challenge for rescue efforts.

Undaunted, Oliver volunteered himself as guardian, and together we kept watch over the distressed sea lion. Time passed in a blur, uncertainty lingering like a shadow.

Then, as if summoned by a divine decree, a group of five young women descended carrying a large cage. Each member of the rescue team, including a local veterinarian, were all volunteers. In a display of remarkable compassion and skill, they coaxed the hefty sea lion into the carrier, despite its vocal protests. To us, they might as well have worn capes, their selfless actions a beacon of hope in a world too often indifferent to the plight of others. Grateful for our assistance, they named the rescued animal ‘Olivander’ in honor of Oliver’s watchful eye.

As we made our way back, Oliver and I reflected on the importance of community, compassion, and the interconnectedness that binds us all. Though Olivander’s journey ultimately came to an end, she passed away without pain in the care of those who saw her as a fellow traveler on this shared planet.

With a Perspective, I’m Jasmine Jaksic.

Jasmine Jaksic is a senior director of engineering. She lives in Mountain View.