Sea lions along California’s coast are stranding themselves, exhibiting signs of poisoning from harmful algae, experts revealed on Thursday.
Since 26 July, the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute has received daily reports of ill sea lions across 155 miles (249 kilometres) of shoreline in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, northwest of Los Angeles.
These marine mammals are suffering from domoic acid, a neurotoxin impacting the brain and heart, stated the institute. The current poisoning event primarily affects adult female California sea lions.
The nonprofit organisation has rescued 23 animals to date. Coastal Vandenberg Space Force Base shared images of sea lion rescues from its beaches on 29 July.
According to NOAA Fisheries, the California coast frequently experiences domoic acid poisoning outbreaks. Last year, a particularly severe outbreak resulted in the deaths of hundreds of sea lions and dozens of dolphins in early June.
Microscopic algae produce the poison, which is ingested by shellfish and small fish eaten by sea lions, dolphins, and birds. Affected sea lions may show symptoms such as disorientation, head weaving, foaming at the mouth, and seizures.
Humans can also fall ill from this toxin.
