On a Venice beach, Debbie Kinney, a marion mammal care expert, placed orange cones in the sand, trying to keep people away from the writhing sea lion just yards away.
The animal is just one of many marine mammals that have turned up, dead or dying, more frequently along the southern California coast. Authorities estimate that people have made more than 1,000 calls for sick or dead sea lions, seals, dolphins and other marine mammals.
“It is very bad. We are at a crisis point,” said Peter Wallerstein, president and founder of Marine Animal Rescue Specialists.
Experts point to toxic algae blooms, which poison smaller fish and become neurotoxic when eaten by larger marine animals.
Although the California Department of Public Health says the dome gas emitted by the blooms occurs naturally, Wallerstein said the problem is partly caused by humans.
“Domoic gas poisoning is caused by runoff from land into the ocean, so wherever we have runoff to the ocean, we have a lot of domoic gas poisoning,” Wallerstein said.
Justin Greenman, California’s assistant stranding coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the poisoning affects the brain and heart, and can cause seizures, disorientation, assault, miscarriage and death.
Kinney, with the Marine Mammal Care Center, said toxic algae blooms, as well as subsequent poisonings, are increasing. As she was explaining that, she had to run to keep a bather away from the sea lion in the sand.
His organization said there have been some 50 rescues in the last two weeks alone. But with many local facilities full, time is ticking to find more available space.
Kinney and Wallerstein said if the sea lion is still in the area Monday, they hope to transport her to a facility.
“She looks pretty out of her mind right now, but if we get her in and they remove the toxin from her body, she might have a chance,” Wallerstein said.
In the meantime, people who see a similarly ill animal are asked to keep their distance, giving them plenty of space to rest and recuperate.
Click here to read this story in English.
