Something is killing sea lions again. But this time it's not all the sea lions, just the pups.
In the past there have been die-offs due to poisonous algal blooms that release a potent toxin into the water which damages the sea lion's nervous system.
But this time, the adults seem to be fine, whereas the newborns are either dead or emaciated. And no one knows why. They are also dying in such large numbers that NOOA has declared 2012 a year of 'unusual mortality'.
The death toll is so high that scientists think that as many as 45% of the pups have died this year. Sea lion pups are weaned in the month of April customarily.
The pups are also nearly emaciated weighing in at about 17 kilos, which is almost half of the 27 kilos they usually weigh in at by this time of the year.
The pups are also swimming long distances to get to the mainland and that makes the situation much worse, due to the fact that they come in with less body fat and dehydrated.
The numbers so far are staggering. Since the beginning of the year, almost 1,000 pups had to be rescued. Most of them off the waters of Los Angeles county all the way to Ventura county.
One of the things that scientists are looking at is the supply of anchovies and sardines, which has plummeted this year. If the supply of this vital link of the food chain plummets, the mothers are not able to fatten themselves up sufficiently to provide milk for their pups.
Another important food for the sea lions are squids.
So far the scientists have not found any chemical or toxin that could have contaminated the sea lion population.
Things could get much worse in April when the actual weaning begins.
Souce: IndipendentUK 3.30.13
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