Intervene to Save Starving Sea Lions

Re: The public’s outrage over the sea lions at San Miguel Island:

I am a marine biologist and currently working on my master’s in environmental health. I am appalled at some of the statements made recently in news reports.

How can biologist Bob DeLong refer to the sea lions’ starvation as “natural selection”? These animals are dying because of the human lifestyle. El Nino may be a relatively unstudied phenomenon until now, but you can bet it all ties in with global warming, which is a direct result of man’s selfish activities.

We fish the oceans, over-fish them in fact, pollute them, dump chemicals and sewage into them, leave our fishing nets behind--all these injustices against nature’s original fishers and the ocean’s other inhabitants.

In addition to going to school full time and working full time, I am an active member of Point Mugu Wildlife Center in Point Mugu and Wildlife Emergency Response based in Malibu. I take offense at the statement I am wasting my time, money and energy. On the contrary, I am not as selfish and self-deceiving as those who dismiss their involvement and their actions as being innocent of any connection with the slaughter occurring on San Miguel and all the other islands up and down our coast.

The public’s outrage has shown we are not heartless and uncaring. I urge those of you who want to make a difference to contact a rescue group and dedicate your time or money to helping these innocent creatures whose environment and lives we have continuously exploited.

I understand at this point it has gone too far for many of them, but how can we not do something? To not intervene is animal cruelty.

I pledge my undying support and my life to these animals and I will gladly spend my time, weekends and vacations included, rescuing and rehabilitating these adorable creatures that have been hunted, shot at, strangled and starved by humans. When will the human attitude and answer of turning the other way change? Anyone care to join me?

TRACY BELLES

Calabasas