A sea lion that was shot in Ucluelet died yesterday at the Vancouver Aquarium鈥檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.
The adult male Steller, named 鈥楿kee鈥� by the centre鈥檚 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鈥檚 Facebook page Friday afternoon.
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鈥淗e wasn鈥檛 responding to treatment, and his condition had taken a significant downturn in the last two days,鈥� said the aquarium鈥檚 head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena. 鈥淎t this point we had to evaluate his quality of life. Although we are disappointed we couldn鈥檛 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.鈥�
鈥楿kee鈥� was severely underweight at around 350 kilograms鈥攈ealthy male Steller sea lions can reach around 800 kilograms鈥攚hen he arrived at the centre. Veterinarians found at least one bullet lodged in the animal鈥檚 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鈥檚 death and said many people believe sea lions compete with fishers.
鈥淪ea lions are unpopular because it is perceived that they eat a lot of fish, specifically commercially targeted fish such as salmon,鈥� she said. 鈥淏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鈥 find it very disheartening and frustrating too.鈥�
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She added that 鈥渢here is very little information鈥� around what sea lions specifically prey on and said her own research suggests salmon is only one small part of a sea lion鈥檚 diet.
鈥淪almon is a portion of their diet, but it鈥檚 not the biggest part of their diet and certainly not chinook salmon,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey are feeding on a wide variety of different types of fish as well as octopus and squid, it鈥檚 not specifically chinook salmon.鈥�
She added that she was happy to see so many community members come to Ukee鈥檚 aide and report the distressed sea lion to the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre at 604-258-7325 and DFO at 1-800-465-4336.
鈥淭he Vancouver Aquarium was able to rescue the animal and do what they could to help it and try to save it. It鈥檚 just unfortunate it had the outcome that it did,鈥� she said. 鈥淭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.鈥�
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andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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