Rescue groups all over the Californian coast are saving record numbers of seals and sea lions this year, with nearly 1,500 sea lion pups, along with over 450 California sea lions, elephant seals, 11 harbor seals, and even 1 fur seal. Officials say that these advancing numbers of emaciated and/or sick animals are not normal and that part of the problem causing these issues are related to climate change.
Oceans around the world are becoming warmer than ever before, causing seal and sea lion food resources to move to other locations. As a result, females leave their young for longer periods of time in an attempt to find food; unfortunately, some may not come back.
In other cases, the young may also wander off due to lack of food and often get washed up or stranded onto Californian beaches, with diseases like pneumonia or parasites.
Officials state that they have been able to save about half the sea lion pups, although many were also humanely euthanized. This sudden problem is putting a great strain on the resources of the wildlife rescue groups who say that there are five times more stranded or sick animals this year than they normally see annually.
Officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that they expect the problem to become worse, as climate change is still going on. Plus, the rescue facilities are already at their top capacity and may not be able to save many more of these sea creatures. Special holding tanks are already being constructed at places like Sea World in San Diego to accommodate the injured, sick and starving sea lions.
Officials have also done checks at two sea lion breeding areas located in the Channel Islands and discovered that many of the pups are not at an acceptable weight. This is especially concerning since the young are normally weaned sometime after March and April, when it also happens to be the busiest months for seals and sea lions to become stranded.
Veterinarians and other specialists normally take care of found California sea lions or other animals for as long as two months to make sure they are healthy before releasing them back into the sea. This is a time consuming and emotional process that also costs a lot money and resources.
State officials are asking people to call (800) 541-7325 for professional assistance if they happen to come across a seal, sea lion pup, or an adult that looks sick, emaciated or injured. They should not approach the animals themselves.
