Sick sea animals mystify scientists

FORT CRONKHITE, California -- A recent surge in weakened and malnourished sea lions found along the Northern California coast is mystifying scientists and keeping workers hopping at the newly expanded Marine Mammal Center here.

"We're way ahead in the numbers this year. We have twice as many animals as we should," marine veterinarian Bill Van Bonn said after examining Charcoal, a sick harbor seal.

Experts at the non-profit center, located on wind-swept Marin headlands just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, believe the perplexing spike in malnourished sea lions along several hundred miles (kilometers) of coast could be due to a decline in populations of smaller fish that young seals and sea lions eat while developing.

"It's likely a problem with the food web, something lower in the food chain that is affected, but we are not sure what it is yet," said Van Bonn.

For 35 years, the seaside hospital has treated and studied ailing elephant seals and other coastal mammals in bath tubs and makeshift facilities. On Monday, as more and more sick animals are needing attention, a new $32 million building will be unveiled that expands the center's capacity and technical ability at a crucial time.

On a recent afternoon, center staff decked out in rubber boots and yellow slickers busily tended to about 130 marine mammals lolling in the center's new pens, which are shaded by solar panels and feature pools with freshly filtered water.

The center treats an average of 600 marine mammals a year, but last year more than 800 were rescued. In a recent week, staff rescued 10 more sea lions a day than usual.

"It's concerning," said Jeff Boehm, the center's executive director.

The only bright side, Boehm said, is that the center is now better equipped to help solve the riddle.

They have "a state of the art lab, a state of the art suite for performing science and doing that pathological work which helps us understand diseases," Boehm said. The center also has surgeons to repair broken flippers or remove cataracts.