The sea lion attacked and bit the surfer off the coast of California. The extraordinary aggression of the animal was probably caused by the disease. In the area for a month there is a toxic bloom, and poisoned animals suffer so much that they can attack without warning.
The incident occurred on Saturday off the coast of the city of Oxnard in southern California. The man surfed about 140 meters from the shore, when the sea lion emerged from the waves. Although Surfer tried to avoid contact with the animal, it began to head towards him. The man tried to escape towards the shore, but at some point the sea lion caught up with him and stuck his teeth, pulling the surf from the board.
“I don't know how to describe the fear that overwhelmed me at that time,” wrote a man on social media. – I was so far from the shore, helpless, staring at the muzzle, which the word reminded nothing I saw so far.
Serious illness
Surfer managed to free himself. He returned to the beach, covering himself with the board from subsequent bites. After going ashore, he went to the hospital and then contacted the Local Fauna Maritime Research Institute to report the animal's extraordinary behavior.
As the naturalists explained, aggression was probably associated with a toxic bloom, which has been off the coast of California since the end of February. It was caused by diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschiawhich they produce Neurotoxic domoic acid. He can get to the body of sea mammals along with meat eating fish algae.
“Symptoms in marine mammals include seizures, uncoordinated head movements and lethargy or coma,” said scientists from California Wildlife Center. – “Sick animals suffer and are confused. You should not interact with them, because they can throw themselves on man and bite him at any time.”
This is not the only recent case of domoic acid poisoning in sea lions. From February, toxin has been detected in over 50 individuals around Malibu.
Source of the main photo: Enex