Around twenty years ago, sea lions began taking up residence on Pier 39 in San Francisco, gradually becoming a tourist attraction.
There was no rhyme or reason for their appearance, but appear they did and soon they became almost as famous as the street cars or the Golden Gate bridge.
Then, about a month ago, the sea lions all but vanished from Pier 39, baffling local scientists. There were even some offbeat theories put forward that they had left because an earthquake was imminent in the area.
However, the mystery has been solved and it all turns out to be a question of food. The sea lions have always gone off in search of food, although generally in such small numbers that it made no real difference.
This time, though, it seems they have virtually all headed off in search of food, all but about twenty in fact. Large numbers of sea lions have turned up in Oergon, prompting speculation that the mystery has been resolved.