Sea lions that have gained weight play in a pool at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. Starving sea lion pups have been washing up on Ocean County beaches. Scientists believe this latest calamity to befall marine life could be tied to El Niño climate conditions. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Tate, top, and Apolo mix it up at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. Many of the sea lion pups that have been rescued by the center are so malnourished that they’ve started digesting their blubber and muscle to keep themselves warm in the chilly Pacific waters. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Curious and playful, Tate mugs for the camera at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. He was brought to the center on Feb. 13. Though he’s gaining weight, he remains slim. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Sampson, another gregarious sea lion, was brought to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center on Feb. 27. He’s also gaining weight but remains undersized. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
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Volunteers Ben Springer of Fullerton, left, and Rachael Holland of San Diego move sea lions in order to clean their cages at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Volunteers Rachael Holland, bottom, Jamie Schoeffler and Ben Springer feed sea lions at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Pups have come in “so severely starved that they look like skeletons,” said Dr. Richard Evans, the center’s medical director. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
