Starving sea lions washing ashore in record numbers

Global Business

Published March 19, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Updated March 19, 2015 at 8:46 PM

California sea lions are washing up on beaches in record numbers, many of them suffering from severe starvation. Rescue centers are scrambling to save as many as they can.
For the first time in 51 years, Sea World in San Diego has put some of its shows on hiatus in order to deal with the problem. CCTV’s May Lee filed this report.

Starving sea lions washing ashore in record numbers

California sea lions are washing up on beaches in record numbers, many of them suffering from severe starvation. Rescue centers are scrambling to save as many as they can. For the first time in 51 years, Sea World in San Diego has put some of its shows on hiatus in order to deal with the problem. CCTV's May Lee filed this report.

Highlights:

  • Nearly 500 starving California sea lion pups have been brought to Sea World San Diego since January.
  • Till now, 1,800 sea lions have been stranded along the California coastline in the past three months.
  • Experts blame warming oceans which force sea lion mothers to leave their pups behind in search for food in deeper waters.