Starving Sea Lion Pups Wash Up on Calif.

(CBS/AP)  Marine mammal experts say dozens of hungry and sick sea lion pups have washed up on Southern California beaches this winter, and many have died at rescue centers.

Veterinarian Richard Evans said the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach has treated 27 skinny pups since December, but only 11 have survived.

Evans says nine of the 12 pups now at his center are in critical condition, "just skin and bones."

Rescuers say the El Nino ocean warming makes the sea lions' prey - squid and fish - scarce.

Evans says the last influx of starving sea lions came in 1998, which was also an El Nino year. He told the Orange County Register that this year's cases were "a little worse."

The same weather pattern has been blamed for sickening hundreds of California brown pelicans in recent weeks.

[pragmatist1]

This is sad, but it's also part of nature. The natural order of things isn't always pleasant. But, that's just the way it is.

[roadracer9x]

People who have no compassion for animals, also have little compassion for other human beings and exhibit the worst traits of our species.

[aghast101]

No! Arrogance is the worst trait of our species.

[marine1957]

roadracer9x:
I agree with your comment here - there is certainly a relationship between how a person treats animals and how that same person will treat another human being. My brother treats his cats better than he treats me. He has the personality of a pit bull - attacking without warning when everything seemed normal just moments before.

[xmissile]

"They belong back in the ocean so they can be food. Don't mess with Mother Nature."

You come across a large snapping turtle laying upside down on the shoulder of a road struggling to right himself. Their is a large pond on the other side. What do you do?
A - Do him a favor and run him over
B - Leave him to his fate
C - Help him to other side

[gerryrigger]

Well I wouldn't drive off the pavement to the shoulder to try and run over him and risk flipping my car upside down just like the dam turtle.

[thesevenveils]

D-Make turtle stew

[ddog88]

That's sad.