October 29, 2024
Marine Mammal Rescue Press Releases Press Releases
Vancouver, B.C. - A severely entangled California sea lion was successfully rescued on Tuesday, October 22, by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR) in a complex multi-agency operation at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. The adult male sea lion, first spotted early on Sunday, October 20th, had a gillnet tightly wrapped around its rostrum (muzzle), neck, and inside its mouth, preventing him from eating and causing significant injury. The entanglement was one of the most severe the team has encountered.
The sea lion, reported by the Ecoguardian at Race Rocks, remained in the same area throughout the day. This gave VAMMR time to coordinate a response with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), BC Parks, and Pearson College. By Tuesday, October 22nd, just 48 hours after the initial sighting, a plan was in place to save the animal, whose health was quickly deteriorating due to malnutrition and the severity of the entanglement.
As a result of the animal’s poor condition and the sensitive nature of the ecological reserve, the rescue required extensive planning and collaboration. Dr. Martin Haulena, Executive Director and Head Veterinarian of VAMMR, sedated the sea lion with a dart, after which it entered the water. A drone operated by DFO tracked the sea lion’s movements, helping the team approach safely once the animal was fully sedated.
The netting was embedded so deeply that standard tools could not be used, and surgical scissors were required to cut away the entanglement. Over the course of 75 minutes, the team carefully removed the netting from around the animal’s neck, face, and mouth, with constant monitoring due to the complexity of the case.
Lindsaye Akhurst, Senior Manager of VAMMR, described the situation as gut-wrenching. “Even for seasoned rescuers, seeing the extent of this animal’s suffering was distressing. The net was so tight and embedded so deep into his neck, and his mouth was completely wrapped shut. The sea lion hadn’t been able to eat for what could have been weeks or even months. We knew we had to act fast, — this was one of the most heartbreaking, but rewarding rescues I’ve been a part of.”
After the debris was fully removed, the sea lion was given antibiotics, pain management, and the sedative was reversed. He was observed swimming away and later hauled out onto a nearby rock, showing signs of recovery.
“We are so grateful that the coordination between VAMMR, DFO, BC Parks, and Pearson College allowed us to respond quickly and give this animal a chance,” Dr. Haulena said. He also stressed the importance of preventing these incidents. “Rescues like this highlight the ongoing problem of marine debris. While we’re grateful this sea lion is recovering, we need to focus on stopping these entanglements from happening in the first place. These complex operations require trained marine veterinary professionals, but prevention is the ultimate goal.”
For more information or to support VAMMR’s rescue efforts, please visit www.vammr.org.
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Photos and Videos can be found here.
Contact:
Todd Hauptman
Communications Manager
Todd.hauptman@vanaqua.org / 604-376-2252
About Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (“VAMMR”) runs Canada's only dedicated marine mammal rescue facility. Each year the team responds to over 300 marine animal emergencies, including the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured, or orphaned animals and the disentanglement of sea lions trapped by marine debris. Hundreds of marine mammals (from seals, sea lions, and sea otters to small cetaceans) have been given a second chance at life thanks to VAMMR.
VAMMR is an independent registered charity proud to be working in partnership with the Vancouver Aquarium. Donations will go directly to VAMMR and help rescue, rehabilitate, and release marine mammals in distress. You can provide your support by donating today at www.vammr.org.
Marine Mammal Rescue Press Releases Press Releases
