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Sea lions and dolphins are being sickened by toxic algae off the coast of California, where hundreds of animals have washed ashore. Mike O'Sullivan visited the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, California, where workers are rescuing and treating the ailing animals
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((PLAYBOOK SLUG: SEA MAMMAL RESCUE
HEADLINE: Rescuers Save California Sea Lions, Dolphins from Toxic Algae Effects
TEASER: The bloom, fueled by El Niño, has killed hundreds of marine mammals
PUBLISHED AT: 07/21/2023 at 9:15am
BYLINE: Mike O’Sullivan
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Laguna Beach, California
VIDEOGRAPHER: Mike O’Sullivan
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:37
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TV,R package
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[Sea lions and dolphins are being sickened by toxic algae off the coast of California, where hundreds of animals have washed ashore. Mike O'Sullivan visited the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, California, where workers are rescuing and treating the ailing animals.]]
((NARRATOR))
This center rehabilitates sea lions and other ocean mammals that have been sickened by toxic domoic acid (PR: doh-MOH-ik)), produced by a fast-growing algae.
Dr. Alissa Deming — a veterinarian and marine scientist at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, California — says the toxin can cause seizures and brain damage in ocean mammals.
((Dr. Alissa Deming, Pacific Marine Mammal Center))
“An average June or July, we maybe rescue anywhere from three to six California sea lions, and in the past six weeks, we’ve rescued and responded to over 104 animals.”
((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory CG: SCCOOS.ORG))
Toxic algae blooms become more common when waters get warmer, as they’ve done this year with the Pacific Ocean current and weather pattern called El Niño (PR: el NEE-nyoh)).
Rescue workers and veterinarians examine a young sea lion, checking his vital signs and blood samples. A toxic reaction may have brought the animals here, but many have other problems .
[[For radio: Glenn Gray is CEO of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center]]
((Glenn Gray, Pacific Marine Mammal Center CEO))
“We’ve come to find out that upwards of 40 percent of all of our patients have some form of a gunshot wound. That might not be why they’ve beached or why they’re here, but nevertheless, they do suffer from that as well.”
((NARRATOR))
Bullet wounds are usually caused by fishermen who shoot at sea lions to keep them away for their catch. Other injuries result from the animals getting entangled with fishing lines or nets.
But they get help at this center. Dr. Deming examines the X-ray of a sea lion whose injured fin was corrected through surgery.
Nearly one in four adult sea lions, however, has cancer, often cervical cancer caused by a virus, as it can be in humans, and triggered by human-made toxic substances that have been dumped or washed into the ocean.
This sea lion suffered only toxic poisoning, but was nursed back to health, and released to its ocean home one recent morning.
A happy conclusion to the story of one ocean animal, and another released along with it.
Shawn Abbey coordinates rescue and response at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.
((Shawn Abbey, Pacific Marine Mammal Center)
“It’s amazing. I mean, this is what we’re all here for. We’re here to bring them back to health and bring them back to their ocean home. It’s just an amazing feeling to finally see that.”
((NARRATOR))
Some animals never recover, but workers at the center say their successes make the effort worthwhile.
((Mike O’Sullivan, VOA News, Laguna Beach, California.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 21, 2023 09:50 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
