BY EWAN PALMER ON 1/8/20 AT 5:17 AM EST
WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WITH GUNS
VIDEO
Animal Cruelty In the U.S.: Best And Worst States For Animal Protection Laws
A rescued California sea lion who was found on a beach suffering from gunshot wounds in December has been euthanized, it has been revealed.
The one-and-a-half-year-old female sea lion yearling, named Mandalorian, was found in distress by the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) in Newport Beach on December 15 after receiving a call from the Newport Beach Animal Control.
Mandalorian was seen to have two distinct wounds, one of which was a draining abscess on her dorsal back. The center's veterinary team also noted that she had trouble moving as a result of her injuries.
It was later determined following a radiograph that the animal had been shot twice, most likely with a pellet rifle. The PMMC released an X-ray showing the pellets or bullet fragments still inside her chest area.
Koalas Who Manage to Survive Wildfires 'Face Death by Starvation'
READ MORE
Mandalorian was then monitored for the next week, but her health continued to decline.
"At that point, a difficult decision was made and the animal was humanely euthanized on December 22, 2019," the PMMC said in a statement.
An autopsy revealed that one of the bullets impacted the sea lion between her rib and adjacent vertebrae. The PMMC said the entry wound then likely became infected, causing severe muscle necrosis and a buildup of fluid in the chest cavity.
The second pellet was lodged in the musculature between Mandalorian's ribs.
The gunshot pellets will be sent to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement for further investigation.
Authorities said it will be extremely difficult to determine who shot at the sea lion.
"Given that there really isn't a way to trace most of the bullets, or in this case pellets, there isn't much enforcement can do," Justin Viezbicke, marine mammal stranding coordinator at the NOAA, told the Orange County Register.
"We do document and keep track to watch for patterns."
A female sea who was found in December on a California beach with two gunshot wounds has been euthanized.PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER
Krysta Higuchi, a spokesperson for the PMMC, told the Los Angeles Times: "We don't know who did this—if it was a fisherman, or if it was someone frustrated that the animal was on their boat, or if it was a little kid playing with their BB gun.
"We just want to educate the public that there are other ways to co-exist with these animals."
Under the Marine Protection Act, people found purposely injuring animals such as sea lions face up to one year in prison and a fine of at least $28,250.
"Unfortunately, what we saw is taking place up and down the Pacific Coast," said Peter Chang, CEO at PMMC.
"These are disgusting and intentional acts, many of which are premeditated. We know there are many out there that feel like they are competing with the sea lions for the same resources.
"However, there's a pathway for us to cohabitate with these precious marine mammals, and shooting them is not the way."
The NOAA has been contacted for further comment.
Animal Cruelty In the U.S.: Best And Worst States For Animal Protection Laws
A rescued California sea lion who was found on a beach suffering from gunshot wounds in December has been euthanized, it has been revealed.
The one-and-a-half-year-old female sea lion yearling, named Mandalorian, was found in distress by the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) in Newport Beach on December 15 after receiving a call from the Newport Beach Animal Control.
Mandalorian was seen to have two distinct wounds, one of which was a draining abscess on her dorsal back. The center's veterinary team also noted that she had trouble moving as a result of her injuries.
It was later determined following a radiograph that the animal had been shot twice, most likely with a pellet rifle. The PMMC released an X-ray showing the pellets or bullet fragments still inside her chest area.
Koalas Who Manage to Survive Wildfires 'Face Death by Starvation'
READ MORE
Mandalorian was then monitored for the next week, but her health continued to decline.
"At that point, a difficult decision was made and the animal was humanely euthanized on December 22, 2019," the PMMC said in a statement.
An autopsy revealed that one of the bullets impacted the sea lion between her rib and adjacent vertebrae. The PMMC said the entry wound then likely became infected, causing severe muscle necrosis and a buildup of fluid in the chest cavity.
The second pellet was lodged in the musculature between Mandalorian's ribs.
The gunshot pellets will be sent to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement for further investigation.
Authorities said it will be extremely difficult to determine who shot at the sea lion.
"Given that there really isn't a way to trace most of the bullets, or in this case pellets, there isn't much enforcement can do," Justin Viezbicke, marine mammal stranding coordinator at the NOAA, told the Orange County Register.
"We do document and keep track to watch for patterns."
A female sea who was found in December on a California beach with two gunshot wounds has been euthanized.PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTERKrysta Higuchi, a spokesperson for the PMMC, told the Los Angeles Times: "We don't know who did this—if it was a fisherman, or if it was someone frustrated that the animal was on their boat, or if it was a little kid playing with their BB gun.
"We just want to educate the public that there are other ways to co-exist with these animals."
Under the Marine Protection Act, people found purposely injuring animals such as sea lions face up to one year in prison and a fine of at least $28,250.
"Unfortunately, what we saw is taking place up and down the Pacific Coast," said Peter Chang, CEO at PMMC.
"These are disgusting and intentional acts, many of which are premeditated. We know there are many out there that feel like they are competing with the sea lions for the same resources.
"However, there's a pathway for us to cohabitate with these precious marine mammals, and shooting them is not the way."
The NOAA has been contacted for further comment.
Mandalorian pictured following her rescue from Newport Beach last month.PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER
No comments:
Post a Comment