Marine Mammals In Peril, Dolphin Deaths, Sea Lion Rehab Continues

DANA POINT, CA —In August, sea lions Fajita, Fireball, and Lyanna were released back into the ocean in front of supporters and friends. This happy story, the end of a journey that began with malnourished, sick, and dehydrated pinnipeds in need of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center's care.

This is just part of the story. Other marine mammals have been in peril in 2019, including 15 dolphins who beached themselves and died on Orange County shores. In recent weeks, two such mammals died at Salt Creek and at the Ocean Institute. One was alive when it was rescued, according to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center's spokesperson Krysta Higuchi. It died about 10 minutes after leaving the beach.

"The dolphin began seizing uncontrollably and passed on its own," she said. The second dolphin washed ashore at the Ocean Institute and was already deceased upon the PMMC team's arrival. As it was beached within days of the previous dolphin, the group conducted a full necropsy on the animal.

The necropsy tests take a long time to get back, Higuchi said. Reports just now coming in from February show that the deceased dolphins have suffered an inflammation of brain or brain tissues. All viral tests are coming back negative, leaving researchers to continue to seek answers.

"We don't have anything conclusive to explain why the dolphins are beaching themselves and dying," she told Patch. "We are concluding that this is just a piece of the large puzzle."

Contaminants, chemicals that end up in the ocean are lowering the immune system of the dolphins. Other animals are sick, malnourished, and in need of assistance that rescue centers such as the PMMC can offer.

In 2019, 172 seals and sea lions have required rescue. That number, while over the annual average, is nothing compared to the true El Nino of years past when the center rescued over 600 seals and sea lions.

"July and August have been much lower, about sea mammals rescued," she told us. The good news? The PMMC is now releasing more than we are rescuing.

While the animals come in dehydrated, malnourished and too sick to eat, there is a recipe for that.
Fish smoothies are the answer, and the concoction, fed through tube feedings, is the first step in healing the ailing pinnipeds.

"It's like if you have a sick child. You don't give them a big juicy hamburger - you give them medicines and help them regain their strength," Higuchi explained. Once they regain their strength, it's back to full fish, swim and play time and bonding with the other mammals at Laguna Beach's Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

The center encourages fans to use the Seal Spotter app and submit photos of the relaxing sea lions and seals. PMMC graduates have been spotted up and down the coast, from La Jolla to as far as San Francisco.