Subject: Beached sea lions dying after seizures (fwd)
Mike Williamson (pita@www1.wheelock.edu)
Sun, 31 May 1998 21:32:59 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: newsclip - Beached sea lions dying after seizures
Beached sea lions dying after seizures
May 27, 1998
SAUSALITO, California (AP) -- A marine rescue center has been trying
to determine why dozens of sea lions have beached themselves on the
California coast, many of them dying after suffering seizures.
Some 60 sea lions found in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties have
been brought to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, just south of
San Francisco. About half have died.
The strandings began earlier this month on Oceano Dunes in San Luis
Obispo. Last week, more sea lions flopped themselves on several
beaches in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
Symptoms have included grand mal seizures, loss of coordination,
vomiting and diarrhea. Most of the sea lions are pregnant females.
The cause of the seizures is unknown, center spokeswoman Kathy
Zagzebski said.
"They're often sitting straight up with their heads back," she said.
"Some are foaming at the mouth and their whole body twitches."
A rescue effort by the National Marine Fisheries Services began over
the Memorial Day weekend.
Marine experts say similar episodes have occurred every three to five
years, most recently in 1992. A preliminary analysis of those sea
lions showed high levels of mercury in their blood.