Vancouver Aquarium helping to rescue California Sea Lions

WATCH: Some of the staff at the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue Centre have headed south — to help California deal with an unprecedented wildlife crisis there. Linda Aylesworth has the story.

The Vancouver Aquarium is lending a helping hand to rescue centres in California who are dealing with a growing sea lion crisis.

“They’re having mass strandings of animals down there. More this year than any other year,” says Sion Cahoon, a Veterinary Technologist at the aquarium.

She’s one of the dozen staff sent to California to rescue sick and starving sea lions that have washed up on their southern coast this year.

While it’s not uncommon for some injured sea lions that have recently left their mothers to need help, it’s estimated there are close to 2,500 this year, several times more than average. It’s believed warm waters brought by El Niño, driving away sardines and anchovies that young pups typically rely on, may be to blame.

“Some of them are being stranded below birth weight. For a nine-month-old animal to be below its birth weight, it’s the saddest thing to see,” says Cahoon.

The Vancouver Aquarium is helping because California rescue centres are overwhelmed with the sheer number in dire need of help this year.

“Our skilled veterinary and animal care teams have years of experience dealing with large numbers of marine mammals in acute care situations. They are exactly what these rescue centres need in their current crisis,” said Dr. Martin Haulena, head veterinarian at Vancouver Aquarium, in a statement.

The aquarium has limited funding for international rescues, but they’re happy to put it to use in situations like this.

“Every new animal that comes in can teach us something new,” says Cahoon.

“It’s a nationwide support system, and I think it’s so good for rescuers to be able to band together…especially in times of crisis like this.”