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Sea lion rescued near Deltaport

Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, DFO assist with an entangled adult female Steller sea lion

A sea lion has a new lease on life after it was rescued from precarious circumstances last Thursday morning near Deltaport.

According to Todd Hauptman, communications manager with the Vancouver Aquarium, members of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre worked with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to assist with an entangled adult female Steller sea lion.

Hauptman said the sea lion was found on March 24 on a buoy at Westshore Terminal at Deltaport, and was seriously entangled with a plastic packing strap around her neck.

“The team had to make several incisions to remove the deeply embedded strap. It was evident that she would have been suffering for months and likely would have died had the team not intervened,” said the statement from the Vancouver Aquarium. “The team cleaned the wound and treated her with antibiotics. The sea lion recovered well and DFO drone footage captured her swimming away in the water.”