US sea lion pups dying
Source: Agencies |
March 31, 2013, Sunday
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HUNDREDS of starving sea lion pups are washing up on beaches in southern California, overwhelming rescue centers and leaving scientists scrambling to figure out why.
At island rookeries off the coast, 45 percent of the pups born in June have died, said Sharon Melin, a wildlife biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service based in Seattle. Normally, less than one-third of the pups would die.
It's gotten so bad in the past two weeks that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an "unusual mortality event." That will allow more scientists to join the search for the cause, Melin said.
Pups are normally weaned from their mothers in April.
Even the pups that are making it are markedly underweight, Melin said.
The most recent pups weighed at the breeding area on San Miguel Island were about 16.8 kilograms, Melin said. They should weigh about 26.7 kilograms, she said.
Melin said she doesn't know how the pups are making it to the mainland, but they must be using currents and swimming.
"That's a long way, and they are very small," she said. "They don't have a lot of fat, and the water is pretty cold. They are often dehydrated, which is typical with emaciation. It puts them in pretty bad condition."
Those landing on the mainland may have been looking for food if their mother stayed out foraging too long, Melin said.
Between January 1 and March 24, 948 pups were rescued, Melin said.
At island rookeries off the coast, 45 percent of the pups born in June have died, said Sharon Melin, a wildlife biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service based in Seattle. Normally, less than one-third of the pups would die.
It's gotten so bad in the past two weeks that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an "unusual mortality event." That will allow more scientists to join the search for the cause, Melin said.
Pups are normally weaned from their mothers in April.
Even the pups that are making it are markedly underweight, Melin said.
The most recent pups weighed at the breeding area on San Miguel Island were about 16.8 kilograms, Melin said. They should weigh about 26.7 kilograms, she said.
Melin said she doesn't know how the pups are making it to the mainland, but they must be using currents and swimming.
"That's a long way, and they are very small," she said. "They don't have a lot of fat, and the water is pretty cold. They are often dehydrated, which is typical with emaciation. It puts them in pretty bad condition."
Those landing on the mainland may have been looking for food if their mother stayed out foraging too long, Melin said.
Between January 1 and March 24, 948 pups were rescued, Melin said.
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