A distressed adult male Steller sea lion that was rescued off a Ucluelet beach and transported to the Vancouver Aquarium91裸聊视频檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Centre on Thursday night is believed to have suffered at least one gunshot to the head.
91裸聊视频淚t does look like there91裸聊视频檚 some pretty serious metal density in his skull, so I have to assume they91裸聊视频檙e some kind of bullet or pellet, fairly large gauge,91裸聊视频� the centre91裸聊视频檚 head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena told the Westerly News on Friday. 91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know whether it91裸聊视频檚 one really large bullet that fragmented into two major pieces, but it certainly looks pretty serious.91裸聊视频�
He said the centre91裸聊视频檚 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 animal91裸聊视频檚 chances of survival do not look promising.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 very lethargic, very weak, he91裸聊视频檚 been allowing people to come up to him so I have to assume that there91裸聊视频檚 some pretty serious degree of head trauma,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淯nfortunately, with a big sea lion like that, if he91裸聊视频檚 letting people approach, it91裸聊视频檚 usually something pretty serious.91裸聊视频�
He added the sea lion may have been blinded.
91裸聊视频淩ight now, he91裸聊视频檚 got one eye tightly shut, the other eye91裸聊视频檚 pupil is dilated and doesn91裸聊视频檛 appear to be visual at all. He might be a blind sea lion, which is obviously a problem for release,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲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 they91裸聊视频檝e hurt, what they91裸聊视频檝e damaged and evaluate his quality of life as well as whether he can be releasable or not91裸聊视频91裸聊视频檓 a bit worried about him for sure.91裸聊视频�
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 Ucluelet91裸聊视频檚 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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