A distressed adult male Steller sea lion that was rescued off a Ucluelet beach and transported to the Vancouver Aquarium害羞草研究所檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Centre on Thursday night is believed to have suffered at least one gunshot to the head.
害羞草研究所淚t does look like there害羞草研究所檚 some pretty serious metal density in his skull, so I have to assume they害羞草研究所檙e some kind of bullet or pellet, fairly large gauge,害羞草研究所� the centre害羞草研究所檚 head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena told the Westerly News on Friday. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know whether it害羞草研究所檚 one really large bullet that fragmented into two major pieces, but it certainly looks pretty serious.害羞草研究所�
He said the centre害羞草研究所檚 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 animal害羞草研究所檚 chances of survival do not look promising.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 very lethargic, very weak, he害羞草研究所檚 been allowing people to come up to him so I have to assume that there害羞草研究所檚 some pretty serious degree of head trauma,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淯nfortunately, with a big sea lion like that, if he害羞草研究所檚 letting people approach, it害羞草研究所檚 usually something pretty serious.害羞草研究所�
He added the sea lion may have been blinded.
害羞草研究所淩ight now, he害羞草研究所檚 got one eye tightly shut, the other eye害羞草研究所檚 pupil is dilated and doesn害羞草研究所檛 appear to be visual at all. He might be a blind sea lion, which is obviously a problem for release,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲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 they害羞草研究所檝e hurt, what they害羞草研究所檝e damaged and evaluate his quality of life as well as whether he can be releasable or not害羞草研究所害羞草研究所檓 a bit worried about him for sure.害羞草研究所�
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 Ucluelet害羞草研究所檚 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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