San Pedro’s Marine Mammal Care Center sees uptick in starving animals

San Pedro’s Marine Mammal Care Center is set to open its new 300-square-foot enclosure Thursday. And it’s coming just in time. This year looks to be a repeat of 2013 and 2014, when starving sea lion pups turned up on beaches in large numbers, taxing the center’s space and resources. Actually, thus far, 2015 seems even worse. For comparison, by this time last year, the center had admitted 24 animals, said David Bard, executive director of the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur in Angels Gate Park. So far this year, he said the center has brought in 48 animals for treatment.