SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- It’s a dangerous rescue mission for the SeaWorld San Diego animal rescue team as toxic algae poisonings of the Southern California pinniped population has come on fast. “We always approach with caution and we try to explain that to beachgoers because they can get thi s burst of energy -- kind of a fight or flight response,” said Jenny Smith, the head of SeaWorld Rescue. RELATED: Toxic algae bloom causes surge in sick sea lions along San Diego coast There have been nine pelicans sickened and one cormorant, but the sea lions have taken the hardest hit from domoic acid poisonings, with 29 rescued in just the last few months. Smith has been leading a team around the clock to save as many sea lions as possible. “We are the ambulance drivers, we are the rescuers, we are also the ones that give the animals the treatment they need,” said Smith. These sea lions are extremely sick as their food sources have been infected with toxins that build up in their brains, eventually killing them. It’s hard to see the suffering sea lions with tremors and seizures. SeaWorld officials say these sea lions have a 50% survival rate with round-the-clock care, but without rescuers the survival rate would be zero. It’s hard to nail down just how many sea lions have died from the domoic acid poising so far, though Smith says at least two female sea lions have made a full recovery. Smith says there’s little time for celebration as the crisis continues to hitting San Diego's shores. ...read more read less