Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Saudi Deputy FM meets Lt. Gen. Al-Burhan of Sudan    Al-Khateeb: Saudi Arabia is the largest global investor in tourism sector "Saudi Land" pavilion inaugurated at World Travel Market in London    Saudi Crown Prince, Japanese PM discuss over phone efforts made to achieve peace in the region    Saudi Arabia, in its drive to enrich Arab culture, launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris    Neymar exits Al Hilal match with muscle injury, leaving fans disappointed    AlHisn Big Time Studios unveiled to transform film and TV production in Riyadh    Saudi Arabia approves cooperation agreement with US for the use of outer space for peaceful purposes    Quality of Life Program CEO highlights Saudi urban transformations at UN-Habitat conference in Cairo    Almarai wins 'Best Corporate Sukuk' at Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Awards    Top climber falls to death after rare Himalayan feat    US voters flying home in time for election    Drones and snipers on standby to protect Arizona vote-counters    India's Modi condemns violence after Canada temple incident    Elon Musk can keep giving $1m to voters, judge rules    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Quincy Jones, titan of US music, dies aged 91    Hidden sugars in Asia's baby food spark concerns    HONOR unveils pre-order of the stunning HONOR MagicBook Art 14 Featuring an ultra-slim design, HONOR Eye Comfort Display and AI Cross-OS WorkStation    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sick sea animals aided by Marine Mammal Center
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 14 - 06 - 2009


A recent surge in
weakened and malnourished sea lions found along the
Northern California coast is mystifying scientists and
keeping workers hopping at the newly expanded Marine Mammal
Center here, AP reported.
«We're way ahead in the numbers this year. We have twice
as many animals as we should,» marine veterinarian Bill
Van Bonn said after examining Charcoal, a sick harbor seal.
Experts at the non-profit center, located on wind-swept
Marin headlands just north of the Golden Gate Bridge,
believe the perplexing spike in malnourished sea lions
along several hundred miles (kilometers) of coast could be
due to a decline in populations of smaller fish that young
seals and sea lions eat while developing.
«It's likely a problem with the food web, something lower
in the food chain that is affected, but we are not sure
what it is yet,» said Van Bonn.
For 35 years, the seaside hospital has treated and studied
ailing elephant seals and other coastal mammals in bath
tubs and makeshift facilities. On Monday, as more and more
sick animals are needing attention, a new $32 million
building will be unveiled that expands the center's
capacity and technical ability at a crucial time.
On a recent afternoon, center staff decked out in rubber
boots and yellow slickers busily tended to about 130 marine
mammals lolling in the center's new pens, which are shaded
by solar panels and feature pools with freshly filtered
water.
The center treats an average of 600 marine mammals a year,
but last year more than 800 were rescued. In a recent week,
staff rescued 10 more sea lions a day than usual.
«It's concerning,» said Jeff Boehm, the center's
executive director.
The only bright side, Boehm said, is that the center is
now better equipped to help solve the riddle.
They have «a state of the art lab, a state of the art
suite for performing science and doing that pathological
work which helps us understand diseases,» Boehm said. The
center also has surgeons to repair broken flippers or
remove cataracts.
Elephant seals, harbor seals and California sea lions make
up the bulk of the patients, but the center also is called
upon to help untangle whales caught in fishing nets, or to
perform necropsies on dead animals that wash ashore.
Only about 50 percent of the animals rescued make it out
alive, but all of them help in the center's scientific
mission: more than 14,000 genetic and tissue samples have
been stored.
The new building allows for more public access, which is
free. Visitors can view the animals in their pens, watch a
necropsy or attend classes.
The Marine Mammal Center has also sought to have a lighter
environmental footprint in its new home: ceiling tiles are
made of seaweed and structural beams are composed of
partially recycled materials. The solar panels used to
shade the pens also provide about 10 percent of the
electricity consumed.
These days, as the ocean's acidity rises due to climate
change, much of the center's work will be focused on
studying how this changing sea chemistry is affecting the
mammals that live within its 600-mile
(965-kilometer)-reach. Only about eight percent of the
center's patients are injured by hazards like fishing nets,
tackle or boats.
On a recent sunny afternoon a group of the malnourished
California sea lions barked as two volunteers held one of
them down so a feeding tube could be inserted.
The staff force-fed the sea lion, known as Robin, with a
yellowish mash of herring, water and salmon oil, hoping to
bolster Robin's strength so she can eventually return to
the sea.


Clic here to read the story from its source.