More evidence of injuries showing up on the sea lions. Ryan recorded them with images on his Flickr site:
Also see this link to the log pages with injured marine mammals.
Another neck ring that will painfully kill this animal. This sea lion may be relatively lucky, the position of the ring may cause a chronic ear infection that will kill it more quickly than the typical starvation/asphyxiation deaths that neck rings can cause.
Ryan Murphy took these photos of some of the injured marine mammals showing up at Race Rocks this year . See more on his Fickr Site .
I heard a very interesting interview on CBC Radio today dealing with the presence of empathy in mammals. This image would then appear to depict “pre-concern”, a concept new to me!
An article entitled “Sea lions at Victoria’s Race Rocks injured by debris, boats” just ran in Victoria’s Times Colonist that quoted me. See it here:https://www.racerocks.ca/racerock/news/debris.htm
Anna Hall, a marine zoologist also quoted in the article suggests showing graphic images to children to warn them of the dangers posed to sea lions. This series is a response to that suggestion and not biased propaganda as I have been accused of.
This image summarizes the article’s headline. Two California sea lions, one with some marine junk entangled around its neck (a death sentence), and another whose front flipper has been nearly severed by a boat’s propeller (it is currently wasting away from not being able to hunt for food).
An update from a NOAA research biologist and a veterinarian who specializes in marine mammals: Both experts agree the wound has been present for so long that the original source of the trauma is impossible to say with scientific certainty. Possible causes include orca bite, entanglement, and boat strike.
The sliced flipper has been cautiously identified as either a whale or orca attack, or a boat strike.
This fall there seems to be an unusual amount of injuries showing up on the sea lions,
Ryan recorded them with images on his Flickr site:
See this link to the log pages with injured marine mammals.
Ryan took these images today. “I noticed this thin sea lion this morning, then that it had a brand, then that it’s front right flipper has been nearly cut through. I watched him long enough to see that he is having difficulty moving around and does not like to lie certain ways. I didn’t get the full brand in any one shot, but the last two show that is is branded C868.
In regards to the injury on it’s flipper, again it’s difficult to say
what could have caused this without a closer exam. My guess is that
it was caused either by a shark, killer whale or possibly a boat
strike.
Ryan Murphy took these photos of some of the injured marine mammals showing up at Race Rocks this year . See more on his Fickr Site .
See this link to the log pages with injured marine mammals.
Ryan recorded them with images on his Flickr site:
See this link to the log pages with injured marine mammals.
See this link to the log pages with injured marine mammals.
Ryan has recorded the injuries with images on his Flickr site:
The spacing and morphology of these wounds suggest a propeller strike.
This fall there seems to be an unusual amount of injuries showing up on the sea lions,Ryan recorded them with images on his Flickr site:
The baby elephant seal is present outside the concrete pad again today. Its back is covered in small wounds and every move it takes seems to be an effort. It spent all day sleeping beside the jetty. Wondering if it is sick or in poor health..The number of sea lions (both stellar and California) is growing daily. Most are hauled out on the NE corner of Gr. Race and on Middle Rock. Some are also on the southern rocks as well. A flock of four Canada Geese was present on the island for a few hours this morning. Seagull chicks are still growing, with many spreading their wings and starting to lift off from the ground. Carcasses in various stages of decomposition have been found scattered across the island this week, with two new ones beside the cistern spotted yesterday. Slash has not been seen for a week now. A number of infractions from recreational boats occurred today, including viewing animals from less than 100 metres, fishing and traveling at speeds greater than 7 kts. Recreational boaters are reminded that violation of the Marine Mammal Regulations (rev. 2006) may constitute a fine up to $100 000. Adam, 21:25:22
