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发帖数: 2314 | 1 The sea lions camped out in PIER 39's West Marina have been endearingly
coined, "Sea Lebrities." The boisterous barking pinnipeds started
arriving in droves, taking over the docks in January 1990 shortly after
the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. At first they numbered from 10-50, but
due to a plentiful herring supply, available dock space and the marina’s
protected environment, the population grew to more than 300 within a few
months. Each winter, the population can increase up to 900 sea lions,
most of which are male. During the summer months, the sea lions migrate
south to the Channel Islands for breeding season, but in recent years a
small group stays year-round at PIER 39's K-Dock.
Pier 39 sea lions have been in the news lately because they seem to be
abandoning their perch at the tourist pier.
The Marine Mammal Center, which is responsible for counting the sea
lions at Pier 39, tallied more than 1,700 of the animals in mid-October,
Oswald said.
There were still more than 900 sea lions in the area as of Nov. 21, but
during a seven-day period, that number dropped to about 20, he said.
Officials are looking into reasons why the animals have left but "we
don't really know," Oswald said.
最近报道称三番海狮跑到了恶狼岗。
Famous San Francisco sea lions may have turned up near Oregon
Associated Press
Posted: 01/07/2010 07:34:28 AM PST
Updated: 01/07/2010 07:34:28 AM PST
SAN FRANCISCO — More than 1,500 sea lions that abruptly disappeared from
San Francisco's Pier 39 may have gone 500 miles north to the central
Oregon coast.
Officials with Sea Lion Caves, a private preserve near Florence, Ore.,
say huge pods of the animals — now numbering about 2,000 — began showing
up in October, about the same time they started leaving Pier 39.
Kim Suryan, a biologist with the Marine Mammal Institute in Newport,
Ore., says the numbers are much higher than usual.
About 1,700 sea lions were counted at Francisco's Pier 39 in October
before they began leaving in droves after Thanksgiving.
Experts say it's strange for so many animals to be at the pier in the
first place and then leave so suddenly.
They say the sea lions may have gone north for colder waters and food
and could eventually return.
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Information from: San Francisco Chronicle
"The best guess is they're looking for food sources," he said. "These
are migratory animals so it's not abnormal for them to leave for periods
of time." |
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