Marine biologists in California are worried that more than 350 stranded sea lions have already been rescued from beaches in 2015, an extremely high number for so early in the year.
In comparison, in 2013 — a year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) called an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) — 1,300 sea lions were rescued between January and May. "During that year we rescued 19 California sea lions in January, this year we already rescued 87 pups in that same month," Sea World San Diego senior veterinarian Hendrick Nollens told NBC News. "So this event seems to be much larger."
Most of the sea lions are dehydrated and malnourished when they are rescued, and immediately receive IV drips of fluids before being upgraded to eating a gruel. In order to be released, the pups must gain weight and be able to compete for fish. Marine biologists have a few theories as to why more sea lions are stranding: The water is warmer, and fish might be going deeper; pups don't know how to dive that far down, and their mothers are going farther away to find food. Another theory is that the California coast is at carrying capacity, and there is a larger sea lion population than normal.
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