A sea lion has been freed off the south coast of Vancouver Island after getting so entangled in netting that rescuers say itB次元官网网址檚 possible he hadnB次元官网网址檛 eaten in weeks or months.

Vancouver AquariumB次元官网网址檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Society says in a statement the complex operation at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve was one of the most severe entanglements the team has encountered.

The rescue society says the adult male sea lion was spotted Oct. 20 with a gillnet tightly wrapped around its muzzle, neck, and inside its mouth, preventing him from eating, causing significant injury and malnutrition.

After 48 hours of planning and co-ordination, the societyB次元官网网址檚 head veterinarian sedated the sea lion with a dart, after which it entered the water and was tracked by a drone operated by the federal fisheries department until it could be safely approached.

The statement says the netting was embedded so deeply that standard tools could not be used, and surgical scissors were required to cut away the entanglement over 75 minutes.

The society says the sea lion was given antibiotics, pain killers, and the sedative was reversed before he was observed swimming away and later hauled out onto a rock, B次元官网网址渟howing signs of recovery.B次元官网网址�

The societyB次元官网网址檚 senior manager Lindsaye Akhurst says the rescue was one of the most heartbreaking but rewarding sheB次元官网网址檚 been a part of.

B次元官网网址淓ven for seasoned rescuers, seeing the extent of this animalB次元官网网址檚 suffering was distressing. The net was so tight and embedded so deep into his neck, and his mouth was completely wrapped shut,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淭he sea lion hadnB次元官网网址檛 been able to eat for what could have been weeks or even months. We knew we had to act fast.B次元官网网址�

Dr. Martin Haulena, the societyB次元官网网址檚 executive director and head veterinarian stressed the importance of preventing these incidents.

B次元官网网址淩escues like this highlight the ongoing problem of marine debris. While weB次元官网网址檙e grateful this sea lion is recovering, we need to focus on stopping these entanglements from happening in the first place.B次元官网网址�