Photos: Rescuing stranded sea lions

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The natural habitat of California sea lions, or Zalophus Californianus, ranges from southeast Alaska to central Mexico. Their breeding season is usually between May and August. Females appear to choose their mates as they travel through breeding territories, known as rookiers, established by males.
In the United States, sea lions are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which outlaws their hunting, killing or harrassment.
In the United States, sea lions are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which outlaws their hunting, killing or harassment. (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

In the parlance of zoology, they’re called Zalophus Californianus, but you probably know them better as California sea lions. And there are thousands of these marine mammals dwelling along the Southern California coastline, announcing their presence with their characteristic barking and cavorting in the water. But in recent months, record numbers of young California sea lions have been found sick and malnourished in local waters, and scientists don’t know why it’s happening. Wildlife officials are now calling it an “unusual mortality event.”  Sharon Melin, a wildlife biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service talked to Tess Vigeland on Which Way, LA? about what this means.

(More photos and audio of KCRW’s visit to the center below.)

The Marine Mammal Care Center is care for an unusually large number of sick and malnourished seals, particularly young seal pups.
The Marine Mammal Care Center is care for an unusually large number of sick and malnourished seals, particularly young seal pups. (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
For seals to weak to digest solid foods, volunteers prepare a kind of seal porridge of electrolytes and ground up fish.
For seals to weak to digest solid foods, volunteers prepare a kind of seal porridge of electrolytes and ground up fish. (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

If the sea lions are  rescued between Long Beach and Malibu, they’re often taken to the Marine Mammal Rescue Center in San Pedro. The Center specializes in nursing sick seals back to good health, when they can then be returned to the wild. Treating ill seals involves veterinary expertise in marine mammal physiology , a little TLC, and lots and lots of fish, especially as sick seals get better and their appetites return in full force.

KCRW visited the Marine Mammal Rescue Center: