A sea lion that was shot in Ucluelet died yesterday at the Vancouver Aquarium乌鸦传媒檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.
The adult male Steller, named 乌鸦传媒楿kee乌鸦传媒� by the centre乌鸦传媒檚 staff, was discovered in Ucluelet on Oct. 10 and transported to the centre on Oct. 11. After roughly two weeks of treatment, the veterinary team made the difficult decision to euthanize the animal, according to a post on the centre乌鸦传媒檚 Facebook page Friday afternoon.
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乌鸦传媒淗e wasn乌鸦传媒檛 responding to treatment, and his condition had taken a significant downturn in the last two days,乌鸦传媒� said the aquarium乌鸦传媒檚 head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena. 乌鸦传媒淎t this point we had to evaluate his quality of life. Although we are disappointed we couldn乌鸦传媒檛 return him to full health, we are glad we could end his suffering and make his final days more comfortable. I am so proud of the team for the incredible care they gave him.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒楿kee乌鸦传媒� was severely underweight at around 350 kilograms乌鸦传媒攈ealthy male Steller sea lions can reach around 800 kilograms乌鸦传媒攚hen he arrived at the centre. Veterinarians found at least one bullet lodged in the animal乌鸦传媒檚 skull and determined he had been blinded.
It is illegal to shoot a sea lion without a permit in Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is investigating.
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West Coast marine mammal researcher Wendy Szaniszlo told the Westerly News she was frustrated by Ukee乌鸦传媒檚 death and said many people believe sea lions compete with fishers.
乌鸦传媒淪ea lions are unpopular because it is perceived that they eat a lot of fish, specifically commercially targeted fish such as salmon,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淏ecause of that, they are seen as competition and likely some folks are maybe wanting to take it in their hands to try to limit any kind of fishery-sea lion interactions乌鸦传媒 find it very disheartening and frustrating too.乌鸦传媒�
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She added that 乌鸦传媒渢here is very little information乌鸦传媒� around what sea lions specifically prey on and said her own research suggests salmon is only one small part of a sea lion乌鸦传媒檚 diet.
乌鸦传媒淪almon is a portion of their diet, but it乌鸦传媒檚 not the biggest part of their diet and certainly not chinook salmon,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey are feeding on a wide variety of different types of fish as well as octopus and squid, it乌鸦传媒檚 not specifically chinook salmon.乌鸦传媒�
She added that she was happy to see so many community members come to Ukee乌鸦传媒檚 aide and report the distressed sea lion to the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre at 604-258-7325 and DFO at 1-800-465-4336.
乌鸦传媒淭he Vancouver Aquarium was able to rescue the animal and do what they could to help it and try to save it. It乌鸦传媒檚 just unfortunate it had the outcome that it did,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭o me, it warms my heart that, while there are some people out there that truly dislike sea lions and are willing to cause them harm, there are many people out there that do like them and will do what they can to help rescue and rehabilitate them as well.乌鸦传媒�
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andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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