Nourished Back To Health, Sea Lion Pups Return To Ocean

Some good news has come from California, where this year an unprecedented number of emaciated sea lion pups have been found washed ashore and on the verge of death.

In San Diego nine sea lion pups were released back into the ocean after being nourished back to health at SeaWorld, according to the city's local CBS station. The pups made their way back to the ocean at Border Field State Park Beach.

The released pups were all rescued in the San Diego area in March, where they were found malnourished and dehydrated. After two months of rehabilitation in captivity, they have put on weight and are ready for a second chance at life at sea.

"We know that these animals were competing well, they were eating live fish. We feel pretty confident that they are going to do well out here in the ocean," rescue animal care specialist Heather Ruce said in a video posted by CBS 8.

The San Diego SeaWorld has already rescued 335 sea lion pups this year, a huge jump from last year's total of 135, CBS 8 reported.

Since the beginning of the year, 1,293 emaciated sea lions found stranded on beaches from San Diego to Santa Barbara, according to an Associated Press article from April.

Recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared a "unusual mortality event" regarding the sea lions, which will further enable marine scientists to figure out why so many sea lion pups are getting stranded ashore this year.

Many signs point to inadequate food supplies, but why food is scarce remains a mystery.

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