Concern mounts in Malibu, California, as sea lions and dolphins exhibit distressing symptoms due to suspected toxic algal blooms. Concerned citizens have made two dozen calls to the California Wildlife Center since late last week, reporting marine animals suffering from seizures, foaming at the mouth, confusion, lack of appetite, and unpredictable behavior. This wave of incidents has prompted Southern California officials to caution beachgoers to avoid distressed sea lions in the area.
The California Wildlife Center suspects that the sea lions have been sickened by domoic acid, a toxin produced by recent algal blooms. While these "red tides" usually peak during late spring, global warming has extended the season into autumn. Experts warn that domoic acid events occur when toxic algal blooms release this dangerous toxin into the waters.
“Though we have not confirmed the cause for these animals’ illness, their signs and the recent rains make the situation highly suspicious for domoic acid toxicity,”
Originates from: the California Wildlife Center
The Marine Mammal Care Center has joined efforts in caring for affected sea lions and dolphins. This year's bloom has already resulted in hundreds of deaths among these marine animals. The current events echo past incidents, such as in 2023 when a harmful algae bloom ravaged central and southern California waters. Another "highly unusual" bloom in 2024 led to similar devastation.
Domoic acid poisoning manifests through symptoms such as foaming at the mouth, seizures, confusion, and erratic behavior. These symptoms have become all too familiar on California's coasts as other domoic acid incidents have occurred before. The Marine Mammal Center has raised alarms about the frequency and severity of these toxic events.
Social media has played a role in disseminating information about this crisis. The California Wildlife Center has posted updates on Instagram to inform the public about the ongoing situation. Fernando Cervantes Jr., a trending news reporter for USA TODAY, continues to cover developments related to the marine life affected by these harmful algae blooms.
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