A sea lion, sickened by toxic algae, attacked a teenage girl in Long Beach, California on Sunday.
When 15-year-old Phoebe Bertrand felt her teeth sink into her arm, she initially thought she was being attacked by a shark. Los Angeles Times It has been reportedbefore seeing the sea lions poke their heads on the water. Bertran was taken to the emergency room with minor injuries.
The attack was hit by a poisoned sea lion incident in Oxnard, California last month. A little surfer. Surfer RJ Lamendora described the animal as “wild, almost demonic, lacking the curiosity and playfulness that I have always been associated with sea lions.”
California official say They receive more than 100 calls every day about sea lions and dolphins, who are sick from the blooming of giant algae. Algae release the powerful toxin domo acid into the water, making sea lions aggressive, experiencing seizures and coma. With sufficient exposure, sea lions can suffer permanent brain damage.
Algae flowers are fueled by seasonal upwellings of nutrient-rich water. But scientists say that Warm sea Furthermore, ash from recent wildfires, which is a factor and source of nutrients, has been added. spur Algae growth.
Algae flowers collide with increasing regularity. Experts say. For the fourth year in a row, toxic algae has skyrocketed along Southern California, putting a burden on officials accused of serving dozens of poisonous sea lions and dolphins that ashure.
“Make emotional sacrifices on the field.” John Warner saiddirector of Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles. “Every year, that’s getting more difficult.”
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