There has been a shocking increase in the number of sick and dying marine mammals along the California coast, according to a marine rescue organization that observes such patterns.
Since June, over 400 mammals have been reported along California’s central coast, with a staggering two-thirds of them nearly dead, as indicated by the Marine Mammal Center. Rescue organizations believe that these animals either perished at sea or died before they could be located.
What seems to be causing this? Well, leptospirosis, toxic algae blooms, and shifts in the food supply have been suggested as possible factors, according to reports.
The narrative includes a story of a debilitated sea lion found on a beach north of Santa Cruz, suffering from a bacterial infection that harms mammalian kidneys and irritates the gastrointestinal tract.
“That’s a typical sign of lepto,” stated Giancarlo Ruri, a spokesperson for the Center, referencing the way young animals curl up, akin to how sick children would when facing stomach issues.
Throughout the summer, sea lions exhibiting these symptoms have been spotted on California beaches, according to earlier reports.
This illness is also dangerous for dogs since it spreads through contaminated water. Experts advise California residents to keep their dogs leashed and avoid close contact with marine animals.
The center undertakes the rescue of ill sea lions and conducts tests for diagnostics. Recovery could take weeks or even months as the animals receive antibiotics and other treatments.
There are ongoing studies looking into whether toxic algae blooms along the central and southern coasts, combined with shifts in food availability, are exacerbating the situation.
“We are working to grasp how the state of the marine environment relates to disease outbreaks,” remarked Jamie Lloyd Smith, a UCLA ecologist and evolutionary biologist. “But it’s a complex task. The world is changing quickly.”
UCLA disease ecologist Katie Prager noted that the first leptospirosis outbreak among sea lions on the West Coast was documented back in 1970.
By the 1980s, marine organizations had developed extensive records revealing that bacteria usually lead to small outbreaks at the end of summer, as reported before.
However, Ruri mentioned that every three to five years, there’s a significant outbreak where the number of affected animals rises sharply.
Lloyd Smith and others believe that dynamics within sea lion populations contribute to increased cases, particularly when young animals come into contact with the bacteria.
Leptospirosis tends to have a high fatality rate, with roughly two-thirds of infected animals succumbing to the disease.
