A sea lion, believed to have been shot in Ucluelet, remained in critical condition at the Vancouver AquariumB次元官网网址檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Centre on Monday.
B次元官网网址淭his is clearly a serious animal welfare issue,B次元官网网址� said the Vancouver AquariumB次元官网网址檚 head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena. B次元官网网址淚t is unacceptable to shoot sea lions. Based on his body condition, this individual has been suffering for many weeks.B次元官网网址�
The adult male Steller sea lion was spotted in distress in Ucluelet on Oct. 10 and a rescue team comprised of Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Vancouver Aquarium personnel as well as Parks Canada staffers, RCMP and volunteers, arrived on Oct. 11 to pull the animal off the beach, with support from a crane provided by Windsor Plywood, and transport it to the Rescue Centre.
Upon examination, Vancouver Aquarium veterinarian Dr. Megan Strobel determined the sea lion had been shot in the head and had at least one bullet lodged in its skull.
Strobel said the sea lion, which she believes is around 9 years old, weighs roughly 350 kilograms. ThatB次元官网网址檚 significantly undersized as a healthy male Steller sea lion can reach around 800 kilograms.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 very skinny, very lethargic,B次元官网网址� she said
The animal has been named B次元官网网址楿keeB次元官网网址�.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 like to share our appreciation for the community of Ucluelet,B次元官网网址� Strobel said. B次元官网网址淚t was a challenging rescue, and we couldnB次元官网网址檛 have done it without them. Even the police chief [Sgt. Steve Mancini] was there and offered up his vessel if the animal went in the water after receiving an injection to sedate him.B次元官网网址�
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Dr. Haulena added that community members did the right thing by reporting B次元官网网址楿keeB次元官网网址� to both DFO and the Rescue Centre and he encourages anyone who spots a marine mammal in distress to never approach the animal, but to immediately report it to the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre at 604-258-7325 or DFO at 1-800-465-4336.
Steller sea lions have been protected as a species of special concern under CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Species at Risk Act since 1970 and DFO is investigating the shooting of B次元官网网址楿keeB次元官网网址�.
B次元官网网址淚t is illegal to shoot a sea lion, unless you hold authorization from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. As per section 7 of the Marine Mammal Regulations, it is illegal to disturb a marine mammal, and shooting would constitute a significant disturbance,B次元官网网址� a DFO spokesperson told the Westerly B次元官网网址 via email adding that shooting a sea lion carries a maximum fine of $500,000 for a first-time offence.
B次元官网网址淗owever, without any additional evidence to tie an individual or firearm to the injured animal in question, it can be challenging to obtain sufficient evidence to lay charges.B次元官网网址�
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B次元官网网址楿keeB次元官网网址� appears to have been blinded in the shooting and his fate remains unclear as, if he survives, he would be unable to forage for food in the wild so would not likely be a candidate for release from the Vancouver Aquarium.
A different sea lion that was blinded after being shot multiple times in Vancouver last year, was deemed non-releasable by DFO and remains in his long-term home at the Vancouver Aquarium.
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Aquarium spokesperson Deana Lancaster told the Westerly that B次元官网网址楿keeB次元官网网址� will be temporarily, at least, housed at the aquarium though she noted the aquarium currently has three other male sea lion residents.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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