A man collecting recyclables traveling along the beach late last night reported to the police the abduction of a stranded California sea lion pup from Dockweiler State Beach near Los Angeles. The man stated that there were two pups and that four people, two men and two women, harassed the sea lion pups, then scooped one up and took it away in their car. The car was described by the witness as a dark Honda Civic with the ending number 56 on the license. Anyone with information on the abduction is asked to call Los Angeles police immediately.
The second pup was found safe and unharmed and was taken by authorities to Marine Animal Rescue, a non-profit group that aids marine animals. When found, the kidnappers can face charges of animal cruelty, as well as federal charges because sea lions are protected under federal law. In addition, they may well suffer dangerous bites because although the pup is small and cute, they are wild and will bite.
Sea Lions A Protected Species
The California sea lion (Zalophus califonianus), like other sea lions, can walk on all fours and have obvious external ear flaps, unlike seals that do not have external ear flaps and travel about on their belly on land. The male of the California species can weigh up to 660 pounds, and be around 8-feet long. The female weighs around 220 pounds and is around 6 feet in length. They can live 20 to 30 years and are known to eat as much as 5% to 8% of their body weight at a single meal. Sea lion pups are small and can weigh less than 20 pounds.
Like all marine mammals, California sea lions are a protected species. Their numbers have shown an increase since 1975. They travel along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia, Canada, all the way down to Central Mexico and Baja California.
Their main source of food is anchovies, sardines, and mackerel. They also eat squid, and rockfish.
Lack of Food Leading to Pup Stranding Crisis
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) for 2015 in California due to the unprecedented numbers of sea lion pups becoming stranded on the coast from emaciation and dehydration. While a large portion of the strandings is pups, adults have also had to be rescued. Last year an average of fewer than 200 strandings were recorded in the month of April. This year, 2015, in the month of April over 1,000 strandings have occurred.
The Marine Mammal Center (MMC) in Sausalito, California, has been overwhelmed by the number of sea lion pups needing rescue and rehabilitation. While many of the animals rescued suffer from viruses, NOAA and the MMC don’t attribute the pups’ condition to the viruses, but the other way around, their poor health and emaciation has allowed the viruses to take hold.
Researchers have noted a change in the availability of sardines off the California coast, which is a high-value food for nursing females. They attribute this change for the high numbers of pups being stranded, as mothers have to travel farther off the coast to obtain food, leaving the pups alone for longer periods where they become lost, malnourished and dehydrated.
All marine professionals state that if you see a stranded sea lion or other animal, do not approach it, but report it to local authorities who can deal with it properly. Sea lion pups are not pets and need special care. It can only be hoped that those who kidnapped the sick pup will realize their mistake and take it to where it can be cared for properly before it is too late.
A video about enjoying the sea in the summer days serves as a reminder to be respectable about the sea’s inhabitants while you’re enjoy them all–the sea and its inhabitants:
https://youtu.be/4tbqkPXSLNA
