VANCOUVER — A young sea lion found shot in the face on Vancouver’s Kitsilano Beach Friday has lost vision in at least one eye, according to the Vancouver Aquarium’s lead veterinarian.
Dr. Martin Haulena said the two or three year old female sea lion, which staff have name Pretzel, was found early in the morning by passersby on the beach between the pool and the yacht club.
Staff from the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans responded and rescued the “severely injured” sea lion, he said.
“She is not doing great,” he said on Saturday, adding that she has lost vision in one eye and the other eye is weak. He is worried that her skull has also been compromised and there may be nerve damage.
The animal is under the care of staff at the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre where they are helping her recover from being weak and malnourished, he added.
They will assess whether she can be released, but Haulena says it’s unlikely given the severe head trauma.
Haulena said they rescue a few sea lions every year that have been shot with guns. While they don’t know why this sea lion was shot, he speculated it could be either someone who just likes shooting animals or someone who thought the animal was competition for fish.
It is illegal to shoot marine mammals in B.C., and those caught can face fines up to $500,000 under the Fisheries Act.
Anyone who finds a marine mammal in distress should leave the animal alone and call the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre at 604-258-7325 or Department of Fisheries and Oceans at 1-800-465-4336.
The Marine Mammal Rescue Centre responded to a call about a juvenile female sea lion in need of assistance on Kits Beach. This species of sea lion should be in a group with others, but she was alone. She will be brought to the Rescue Centre for examination and stabilization. pic.twitter.com/Y1SL9ZBOTe
— Vancouver Aquarium (@vanaqua) March 18, 2022
