3D-printed sea lion pelvis offers a new marine mammal training tool

Sea lion strandings tied to harmful algal blooms have become a recurring clinical challenge on the Southern California coast, and UNLV researchers say they’ve built a new training tool to help. In a study published January 21, 2026, in Scientific Reports, the team described a 3D-printed synthetic California sea lion pelvic region that combines printed bone structures with layered soft-tissue materials modeled from CT scan DICOM data. The phantom is designed to help veterinarians and trainees practice blood collection at the caudal gluteal site without using live animals or cadavers. The work involved UNLV researchers and the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, and was highlighted by UNLV in a February 25, 2026 announcement. (nature.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals working in wildlife, rehabilitation, zoological medicine, and marine mammal care, the value is practical: sea lions affected by domoic acid toxicosis often need repeat diagnostics, but blood collection in this species depends heavily on tactile identification of pelvic landmarks. The authors say the model was built to reproduce both anatomy and tissue feel, which could support safer, repeatable skills training as stranding events continue. NOAA reported in March 2025 that Southern California responders were receiving more than 100 calls a day during an early toxic algal bloom, with some centers forced to triage which animals had the best chance of recovery. (nature.com)

What to watch: The next step is whether the platform moves beyond blood-draw training into simulated blood flow, performance feedback, and eventually broader marine mammal procedure training or implant development, as the authors suggest. (nature.com)