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