Around 70 sea lions have been found sick or dead from a toxic algae bloom off the coast of Los Angeles and dozens are being treated at the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro.
This is the fourth year in a row that there has been a toxic algae bloom of domoic acid off the coast.
John Warner, the CEO of the Marine Mammal Care Center, told KNX News’ Emily Valdez that the care center has treating sea lions that are sick with “severe” symptoms of domoic acid.
“We're not sure if it's just the amount of food that they ate with the domoic acid in it or whether the toxicity level of the algae is higher than we've normally seen,” he said.
He added that most sea lions at the care center are female..
“They have been pregnant and they will lose their pups, so they are having miscarriages, aborted fetuses here at the center,” he said.
Warner said 30 to 40% of the sea lions have died and that those who survived were rescued early.
“The goal is really to get them into care ASAP,” he said. “Flush it out of their system with lots of fluids, get them to eat as soon as possible, give them anti-seizure medications, and keep them here until it's really cleared their system.”
John Warner, the CEO of the Marine Mammal Care Center, told KNX News’ Emily Valdez that the care center has been taking care of sea lions that are sick with “severe” symptoms of domoic acid.
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“They have been pregnant and they will lose their pups, so they are having miscarriages, aborted fetuses here at the center,” he said.
Warner said 30 to 40% of the sea lions have died and that those who survived were rescued early.
Those who see any sea lions that look sick or are acting odd are urged to inform a lifeguard or call the Marine Mammal Care Center at 1-800-39-WHALE (94253).
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