Oil Spill Imperils Atlantic Sea Lions

As many as 6,000 sea lions could die because of a large oil spill off Uruguay’s Atlantic coast, a report said Monday.

The Panamanian tanker San Jorge ran aground Feb. 8, spilling oil that has washed up on long stretches of beaches. Several sea lions already have been found dead near Isla de Lobos, east of Punta del Este, the navy said.

Environmental experts quoted by El Pais newspaper said the death toll could reach 6,000. Isla de Lobos is home to some 200,000 sea lions.

The tanker, carrying 370,000 barrels of crude oil, was headed from southern Argentina to the Brazilian port of Sao Sebastian when it ran aground. It is not known how much oil flowed out.