Californian Sea Lion, Mexico, 2022 (photography)

Californian Sea Lion Zalophus californianus at Los Islotes, Mexico, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, La Paz. Sea lions are increasingly suffering the consequences of climate change. On the southern California coast, the number of malnourished and dying sea lions is creating a catastrophe of massive proportions. Compared to 20 years ago, we can see that the female fur seal is now born at a lower weight and the pups that survive and reproduce tend to be the largest, having their first pup later than usual. These alterations are normally related to stress due to lack of food. Climate change affects sea lions, which today are experiencing a critical situation due to changes in food availability, which is due to climatic conditions. The situation is worrying because Antarctic krill are scarce and this reduces their chances of survival. This is scarce due to environmental variation that modifies the local atmosphere, sea ice and oceanographic conditions.