California Sea Lion Rescue

Vancouver Aquarium's veterinarian, Dr. Martin Haulena, and staff from the Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Centre were rushed to Vancouver Island to assist a California sea lion in distress on August 23, 2011. Rescued off the shore of Ucluelet, the young adult male was spotted by locals with a foot-long fishing flasher hanging from his left cheek.

When Aquarium staff arrived on site and assessed the sea lion, it was immediately apparent that he was in bad shape. In addition to the fishing hook, he was emaciated, dehydrated, very weak and suffering from a deep wound on his back. He was swimming with difficulty and unable to climb out of the water. In this video you can see him struggle and fail in his attempts to pull himself up onto a low floating dock. Thanks to the help of Fisheries and Ocean Canada, the 200-kilogram sea lion was brought to shore and then transferred by ferry to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.

More information:

http://www.visitvanaqua.org/news/california-sea-lion-rescued

http://www.vanaqua.org/mmr

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• piniped
• rescue
• animal
• sealion
• ocean

[KyleKingson72]

did he live?

[VancouverAquarium]

@KyleKingson72 We just released him on October 5th.

[WaxItYourself]

@VancouverAquarium You guys should upload videos of you releasing the animals. Do you have any documentaries or anything concerning your rescuing, healing, and releasing the animals you've rescued?

[VancouverAquarium]

@WaxItYourself His release video is here - youtube.com/watch?v=pwTag3oQ-v­E we have other animal release videos in our channel as well, thanks for the interest.

[UgLyEmOChIcK]

Aww :( he was so tired.. he gave up :( I hope he is all better.. can you do an update video?

[poptarts22557]

damn, why would people just leave their stuff out there? aww i hope all the animals are ok

[kirkygirl]

@luigiman2341 Well it's not fishermen I hate, it's *irresponsible* fishermen I hate.

25 Aug '11 2318 PST

[luigiman2341]

I HATE FISHERMEN

[HyakkoShachi]

Poor guy,I hope he makes it.