A distressed adult male Steller sea lion that was rescued off a Ucluelet beach and transported to the Vancouver Aquariumsa国际传媒檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Centre on Thursday night is believed to have suffered at least one gunshot to the head.
sa国际传媒淚t does look like theresa国际传媒檚 some pretty serious metal density in his skull, so I have to assume theysa国际传媒檙e some kind of bullet or pellet, fairly large gauge,sa国际传媒� the centresa国际传媒檚 head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena told the Westerly News on Friday. sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 know whether itsa国际传媒檚 one really large bullet that fragmented into two major pieces, but it certainly looks pretty serious.sa国际传媒�
He said the centresa国际传媒檚 staff will try to stabilize the sea lion over the weekend with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication to help with the pain it is in before taking a closer look at its injuries next week, but added that the animalsa国际传媒檚 chances of survival do not look promising.
sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檚 very lethargic, very weak, hesa国际传媒檚 been allowing people to come up to him so I have to assume that theresa国际传媒檚 some pretty serious degree of head trauma,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淯nfortunately, with a big sea lion like that, if hesa国际传媒檚 letting people approach, itsa国际传媒檚 usually something pretty serious.sa国际传媒�
He added the sea lion may have been blinded.
sa国际传媒淩ight now, hesa国际传媒檚 got one eye tightly shut, the other eyesa国际传媒檚 pupil is dilated and doesnsa国际传媒檛 appear to be visual at all. He might be a blind sea lion, which is obviously a problem for release,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淲e really need to evaluate that other eye and then really see what the degree of injury is from the bullets; where they are, what theysa国际传媒檝e hurt, what theysa国际传媒檝e damaged and evaluate his quality of life as well as whether he can be releasable or notsa国际传媒sa国际传媒檓 a bit worried about him for sure.sa国际传媒�
The sea lion was reported to the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre and Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Wednesday and a rescue team assembled in Ucluelet to capture it and transport it to the rescue centre Thursday night.
Collecting the sea lion was a tough task as it had beached itself high up a rocky shoreline near Uclueletsa国际传媒檚 fuel dock. The rescue team tranquilized the animal and were assisted by local volunteers to carry it to the edge of a cement wall adjacent to the beach where a Windsor Plywood truck and crane then lifted the sea lion onto a transport vehicle to be taken to the rescue centre.
Anyone who spots a marine mammal in distress should never approach the animal, but should instead immediately contact DFO at 1-800-465-4336 or the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre at 604-258-7325.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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