According to experts in marine mammals, many starving sea lion pups were washed up on the beaches of Southern California this winter, many of which died at rescue centers.

According to veterinarian Richard Evans on Thursday, they were able to treat 27 sick pups at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. Sixteen of those pups died.

Evans further said that nine of the 12 sea lion pups at the center are now in critical condition or “just skin and bones.”

The increase in number of sea lions being washed on the shores is blamed on the El Nino phenomenon which causes the squid and fish, major parts of a sea lion’s diet, to be scarce.

The last time that this influx happened was in 1998 when El Nino was also in full blast. Hundreds of California brown pelicans have also been sickened by this weather pattern.