A sea lion that had a plastic packing band wrapped around its neck can now swim freely thanks to intervention from staff at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society. The entangled adult male California sea lion was reported to rescuers on Aug. 1, according to the organization, which says the plastic band posed a significant risk to the massive mammal’s health. The team waited for a safe weather window, which arrived on Aug. 17, and successfully detangled the 280-kilogram sea lion at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve near Metchosin. That involved VAMMR head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena using a dart gun to sedate the animal before approaching it to remove the band. “What’s frustrating about these cases is that these injuries are preventable,” Haulena said, in a media release issued Tuesday. “Something as simple as a plastic packing band can cause significant injury to a sea lion. This is why reducing marine debris and reporting entangled animals quickly are so important.” The sea lion was given identification tags and medicine and monitored by the veterinary team until it was alert and upright, VAMMR added. The organization says about 60 per cent of sea lion entanglements it responds to involve plastic packing bands. Anyone who encounters a marine mammal in distress is urged to call Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s hotline at 1-800-465-4336 or VAMMR’s hotline at 604-258-7325.
