Domoic Acid Pups
Meet the Pups Born During the Domoic Acid Emergency
Born to mothers suffering from domoic acid poisoning, these six sea lions pups got a second chance at life
Last summer, hundreds of California sea lions were sickened by a toxic algae bloom along our coast that coincided with pupping season on the Channel Islands.
Over the course of the stranding event, 10 of our patients gave birth while in care or on the beach the day they were rescued. Six of those pups defied the odds and were successfully supported during a critical time when they would have died otherwise.
At first, the sick sea lion moms were unable to care for their pups, but after the effects of domoic acid had subsided, they began nursing again. The pups grew rapidly and weaned successfully, allowing their mothers to return to the wild.
Historically, pups born in captivity or exposed to domoic acid at a young age have been either humanely euthanized or placed in zoos or aquariums because it was believed they wouldn’t be able to thrive in the wild. But the Center’s experts hope to change that.
After getting approval from NOAA, all six pups were released off a boat near the Channel Islands, where they are expected to find other sea lions with whom they can socialize and travel.
Although algal blooms like the one that affected these pups are naturally occurring, research has shown that they are more abundant in warmer waters. As climate change continues to warm our waters, these blooms will increase as well, which means these outbreaks will only be more frequent and more severe in the future. Will you help ensure we’re prepared for the next crisis?
