California, marine lions intoxicated by a alga become aggressive and attack surfers
Flowering has repeated itself for the fourth consecutive year and this year it arrived earlier than expected. Consequences are feared for the ecosystem and tourism
THE marine lions They are normally quiet animals, who do not take it with humans. But some swimmers, according to what the media report, reported that they had been attacked by these mammals, which appeared to the witnesses present as suddenly « aggressive » and « disoriented ». To cause anomalous behavior would have been atoxic seaweed. The discovery is due to one of the surfers targeted while with his table he was at sea who, suspicious of the anomalous attitude, wanted to see us clearly and involved the local authorities.
The checks carried out on animals confirmed that aggression was induced by a health problem. In particular, one was detected Domestic acid toxicosisneurological condition caused by a harmful algal flowering that is now repeated. Toxin causes several animal disorders, including convulsions And intense letry and often It also leads to death. In 2023 more than a thousand specimens had died of this intoxication.
The flowering of these algae was recorded For four consecutive years In California and fear it is time that it can become a seasonal event, with everything that can involve both in terms of impact on the ecosystem and on the fauna and for the repercussions on tourism. This year the flowering came first of the usual, perhaps due to higher temperatures that also caused a greater heating of the water, and spread for about 600 kilometers Along the coast of southern California.
Although the attacks are rare, the experts say that the number of animals with the flowering of toxic algae seems to be increasing. John WarnerCEO of Marine Mammal Care Center of Los Angeles, who takes care of the marine animals affected by the toxic alga, told the BBC that these animals are not « naturally aggressive nor do people really attack », but that toxins influence their behavior. “They react to the fact that they are
sick, « he explained. «They are disoriented and, most likely, the greatest
part of them has convulsions, so their senses are not fully
functional as usual and act out of fear ». However Warner recalls that
These are still about wild animals and that it would be better keep yourself at a safe distance.
