Sea lions

Sea Lions Latest News

An algal bloom along the California coast has resulted in a neurotoxin release, which is causing sea lions to become aggressive, leading to attacks on beachgoers and surfers.

About Sea Lions

• Family: Otariidae, which includes five species – California, Northern, Southern, Australian, and New Zealand sea lions.
• Habitat: Found along the Western coasts of North America, from southeast Alaska to central Mexico, mainly on rocky shores and sandy beaches.
• Physical Traits: They possess external ear flaps, long foreflippers, mane-like fur in males, and can weigh up to 1200 pounds (approx. 545 kg).
• Behavior: Typically non-aggressive and social, sea lions are now showing lethal aggression due to neurotoxin-induced neurological disorders.
• Lifespan: The Average lifespan is 20 to 30 years.

What is Causing the Sea Lions' Aggression?

• Sea lions, typically non-aggressive marine mammals, have shown violent and erratic behaviour, attributed to exposure to a neurotoxin called domoic acid.
• Domoic acid is secreted by the toxic diatom algae Pseudo-nitzschia, which blooms excessively under nutrient-rich conditions in the ocean.
• Once released, this neurotoxin enters the marine food chain, affecting not just small fish, but also larger predators like sea lions that consume these fish.

Sea Lions FAQs

Q1. What are Mammals?
Ans. Mammals are a diverse group of animals that belong to the class Mammalia. They are characterised by several key features like have mammary glands, hair or fur covering their bodies and most mammals give birth to live young, as opposed to laying eggs.

Q2. Why are sea lions ecologically important?
Ans. As apex predators, they maintain marine ecosystem balance and serve as bioindicators of ocean health.

Q3. What threats do they face globally?
Ans. Climate change, overfishing reducing prey, and entanglement in marine debris. IUCN lists the Australian sea lion as Endangered.

Q4. How is India involved in their conservation?
Ans. India collaborates via CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) and enforces marine protected areas under the Wildlife Protection Act.

Source: DTE