Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Photos: Sea lions are released after toxic algae bloom in Southern California
Listen
• 5:43
Patchouli is one of the last sea lions released from the Marine Mammal Care Center after a toxic algae bloom in Southern California.
(
Courtney Theophin
/
NPR
)
This spring, Southern California experienced one of the longest toxic algal blooms on record. It sickened at least 1,500 animals in the region and the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro, took in nearly 400 sea lions and dolphins in just a few months.
On a recent Monday, NPR's All Things Considered visited an empty beach in Palos Verdes to witness the release of one of the center's very last sea lion patients from this year's outbreak. Patchouli was waiting in a crate on the back of a truck, and as her handlers carefully rolled her crate down a ramp, it bounced on its big moon rover-like wheels. Then, it was go time — and as soon as they opened the crate's door, Patchouli slid out onto the smooth rocks of the beach and waddled swiftly back into the waves.
Staff at the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro, Calif., prepare to release Patchouli from her crate so she could return to the wild after being in their care.
(
Courtney Theophin
/
NPR
)
Patchouli was one of the nearly 400 animals the center took in following the algae bloom earlier this year.
(
Courtney Theophin
/
NPR
)
Support for LAist comes from
Meanwhile, back at the Marine Mammal Care Center, the scientific detective work is about to begin. Not all the animals sickened by this year's algal bloom survived. In an effort to learn from their deaths, the center took all sorts of samples from the poisoned animals: brains, blubber, blood, even amniotic fluid.
Now, they will work with their scientific partners to determine how the toxin affected the animals, and in some cases, their gestating young. And they will investigate whether runoff from the January wildfires has affected the animals.
The Marine Mammal Care Center treats seals and sea lions until they can be released back into the wild.
(
Courtney Theophin
/
NPR
)
Michelle Rivard, the center's director of animal health and conservation, performs an ultrasound on a sea lion that is recovering from poisoning caused by the toxic algae.
(
Courtney Theophin
/
NPR
)
The center saved samples of blubber, organs and fetuses from animals that died to study how domoic acid, the toxin produced by these algal blooms, affected reproduction and whether wildfire runoff had an impact.
(
Courtney Theophin
/
NPR
)
The center has cared for nearly 10,000 marine mammals since 1992.
(
Courtney Theophin
/
NPR
)
Copyright 2025 NPR
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist