The Vancouver Aquarium害羞草研究所檚 head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena might not wear a cape, but he害羞草研究所檚 definitely a hero after swooping in to rescue an entangled sea lion near Tofino on July 9.
An adult female Steller sea lion was facing a painful and slow death after getting caught up in marine debris on Cleland Island.
Haulena told the Westerly News that the large animal had a piece of garbage tightly wrapped around her neck that had cut deep into her skin.
害羞草研究所淪he was skinny. I do believe she was already being compromised in terms of her ability to go and forage,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淓ventually this would have been the death of her. One of the major issues, for me in particular, is how long that takes. It害羞草研究所檚 an absolutely horrible way to go. It害羞草研究所檚 months or upwards of a year to succumb to these kind of injuries, They just don害羞草研究所檛 get better. The entanglement that害羞草研究所檚 there just keeps cutting and cutting and hurting and hurting.害羞草研究所�
The distressed sea lion had been spotted by several wildlife watching companies in the area and reported to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre prompting Haulena害羞草研究所檚 team into action.
Haulena was taken to the site by local adventure company Ocean Outfitters and was joined in the rescue effort by DFO and Parks Canada personnel as well as local researcher Wendy Szaniszlo, and Doug Sandilands, from Washington State rescue organization.
When the team arrived at the site, Haulena was unable to shoot the distressed animal with a tranquilizing dart from the boat due to rough seas and the crowd of sea lions around the distressed one, so he and several other team members got onto the island.
害羞草研究所淚 just kind of snuck out along the rocks to the haul out site and got a really good vantage point on a little high spot right beside the animal and waited for a good opportunity when the other animals got out of the way and then just took the shot.害羞草研究所�
Once the animal was sedated, the next step was to approach her without upsetting the other animals.
害羞草研究所淲e approached from such an angle so the animals are moving away from her when they害羞草研究所檙e going into the water and clearing out of the way,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hey are pretty good about moving off as long as you don害羞草研究所檛 try to antagonize them or anything害羞草研究所or the most part, they害羞草研究所檙e quite fearful and watchful, they stay close and they害羞草研究所檙e very curious, but they don害羞草研究所檛 tend to be very aggressive.害羞草研究所�
Once at the animal, Haulena made quick work of removing the trash around its neck.
害羞草研究所淪he was a little bit close to the water, so we had to work a bit more quickly than in some other cases because the tide was coming in and there was a good wash happening there,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淭he disentanglement itself was very, very, quick and there was about an 8-10 minute recovery time and, of course, we want to collect some samples and put some flipper tags on the animal so we can identify her later.害羞草研究所�
He said the sea lion 害羞草研究所渨as back in the water and acting very normal,害羞草研究所� within 20 minutes of being freed from the debris and has been spotted by several whale watch groups since the rescue.
害羞草研究所淥nce you get that material off of them, they do heal very well,害羞草研究所� he said.
He said the rescue was a solid collaborative effort between his team, DFO, Parks Canada, BC Parks and, he added, local wildlife watching companies played an integral volunteer role in the mission.
害羞草研究所淭he kept an eye on it for a few days, made sure it was staying put and that there was a good chance it would be in the area by the time we could get our team together, get our weather window and get out there,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淥cean Outfitters was absolutely phenomenal. They donated their boat and captain to take us out there and spend a good chunk of the day with us and they monitored the animal before and after this with some other whale watching folks. It害羞草研究所檚 just so nice to see so many people from so many different situations just really care about animals and, you know, that makes me feel good.害羞草研究所�
Haulena said marine debris entanglement is a chronic problem and noted local marine mammal researcher and Vancouver Aquarium associate Wendy Szaniszlo estimates roughly 400 sea lions are entangled in debris within the Pacific Rim Nation Park害羞草研究所攂etween Tofino and Ucluelet害羞草研究所攅ach year.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 a high number and, unfortunately, we can害羞草研究所檛 get to all of them,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a major effort. We害羞草研究所檙e super lucky we can get six animals a year.害羞草研究所�
Discarded fishing gear, like nets and rope along with trash like plastic shipping straps, can easily become fatal snares around an animal害羞草研究所檚 neck and Haulena hopes to see more people get onboard a 害羞草研究所楲oose the Loop害羞草研究所� mentality to cut down on the number of man-made hazards animals face.
There害羞草研究所檚 a lot of folks out there trying to get that message out,害羞草研究所� he said adding tag lines like 害羞草研究所楲oose the Loop害羞草研究所� are spread far and wide. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 out there but, I think, if people don害羞草研究所檛 want to listen, they害羞草研究所檙e not going to find it.害羞草研究所�
West Coast locals and visitors are urged to never approach a distressed sea lion and to, instead, immediately report any sightings to Vancouver Aquarium害羞草研究所檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Centre at 604 258 7325.
