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Podcasts Take Two
Piecing together the clues behind the rash of sea lion deaths
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Aug 21, 2013
Listen • 8:10
Piecing together the clues behind the rash of sea lion deaths
Last year, thousands of sea lion pups died off the California coast for reasons that have yet to be definitively discerned. One possible cause might be due to affected food supply. Researchers and marine experts are concerned it might happen again.
These malnourished and dehydrated pups are recovering in the "intensive care unit" of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. The center rescued 12 sea lion pups on Saturday, March 9, 2013, alone -- breaking its prior one-day record.
Malnourished and dehydrated sea lion pups recovering in the "intensive care unit" of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach.
(
Mary Plummer
)
Sea Lions relax on a buoy in The Port of Los Angeles.
Sea lions relax on a buoy in The Port of Los Angeles.
(
Mae Ryan/KPCC
)

Last year, thousands of sea lion pups died off the California coast for reasons that have yet to be definitively discerned. One possible cause might be due to affected food supply. Researchers and marine experts are concerned it might happen again.

It's been a grim time for Southern California sea lions. The creatures have been dying at an alarming rate and hundreds have washed up on shore, gravely malnourished.

Scientists have been baffled by this phenomena and have yet to nail down a cause. Now as new pups are being born, wildlife experts are wondering if this next generation of sea lions will be able to survive.

Wired science reporter Nadia Drake joins the show with more.