California holds the largest population of sea lions in the U.S., prominently displayed at Pier 39 in San Francisco. Recently, a 9-year-old girl was attacked by a sea lion while surfing, raising concerns about safety. Boat docks are often blocked by sea lions, affecting recreational activities. The population of sea lions has increased to between 250,000 and 275,000 over the last 50 years, indicating ecosystem health. Public awareness is crucial for safety when engaging in water activities in areas frequented by sea lions.
Corale Olsen stated, "The sea lion went under my instructor's leg and then it came up to me and bit me, and then I got dragged under water."
Giancarlo Rulli emphasized the importance of public awareness, noting, "It's just really important for the public to be aware that we're swimming in their backyard or recreating in their backyard."
Rulli explained the population growth, stating, "Over the course of the last 50 years, California sea lion populations across the west coast have risen to between 250,000 and 275,000."
Rulli also mentioned that sea lions are indicators of ecosystem health saying, "they are a warning signal so-to-speak, for emerging diseases and changes in the ocean."
Collection
[
|
...
]