NEWS

Sea lions have stopped the harbor in Monterey

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The City of Monterey's boat launch has been put on hold as sea lions have taken over the boat launching site this year.

«We have an influx of young sea lions here. Many of the animals are hungry or sick, so they've set up a kind of colony at our facility», said Harbor Manager Steve Scheiblauer.

The launch pad had to be urgently barricaded - otherwise, Scheiblauer said, the mammals would have populated the parking lots as well.

The harbour is expected to be reopened in April, but in the meantime people are not allowed to stay there.

Experts say California's shores are facing an unprecedented number of pinnipeds this year. El Niño is considered to be the reason for it - the phenomenon warms up the California Current, thus all food of animals is transferred further into the ocean, and starving seals freeze in the water and seek shelter and food on the land.

So far, 1,800 sick sea lions found on public beaches have been sent to rehabilitation centers.

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