Fourteen sea lions who were injured when someone dumped chlorine into their tank at a marine rescue center in California have been released back into the ocean.  

The animals frolicked joyously in the crashing breakers and salty spray.

Their return came after months at the Pacific Marine Mammal Rescue Center, where they were taken after being found on the beach near death.

Caring workers nursed them back to health and they were only days away from being released last April, when they had another setback -- someone poisoned their outdoor holding tank with chlorine. 

The center still has more than 100 sick animals in their facility, waiting for their day to go home.