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Gorgeous sea lion pup found by cleaners at California restaurant

A starving sea lion has been rescued after finding its way into the booth of a fancy California restaurant.

The unexpected visitor was discovered at The Marine Room in San Diego, an oceanfront restaurant in La Jolla seated in a dining both asleep, patiently waiting for breakfast to be served.

The seal was just patiently waiting for breakfast when she was found. Photo: Facebook/ Bernard Guillas
The seal was just patiently waiting for breakfast when she was found. Photo: Facebook/ Bernard Guillas
Photo: Facebook/ Bernard Guillas
Photo: Facebook/ Bernard Guillas

Executive chef of the restaurant Bernard Guillas posted cute photos of the eight-month-old female pup peering out the window on Facebook.

Mr Guillas wrote: "We found this little guy in the The Marine Room restaurant this morning. He was a little bit early for his high-tide breakfast reservation."

Photo: Facebook/ Bernard Guillas
Photo: Facebook/ Bernard Guillas
Photo: Facebook/ Bernard Guillas
Photo: Facebook/ Bernard Guillas

Experts at San Diego's SeaWorld were called in to rescue the pup that was severely underweight and dehydrated.

The pup was taken to SeaWorld's Animal Rescue Center, and experts are cautiously optimistic about its recovery.

There's been a surge in sea lion mortality over the past year, with marine biologists collecting thousands of sick, starving, stranded or dead pups. So far this year, SeaWorld has rescued 47 sea lions and other marine mammals.

Scientists say the animals' food supply has been affected by higher-than-normal ocean temperatures linked to El Nino.

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