The adult male Steller sea lion was found unresponsive but still alive with a bullet on his skull on a rocky shoreline of Ucluelet last Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. (Marine Mammal Rescue Centre Handout)
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CTV Vancouver Island
Published Friday, October 26, 2018 4:53PM PDT
Last Updated Friday, October 26, 2018 5:16PM PDT
A sea lion rescued in Ucluelet after being shot in the head earlier this month has died at a Vancouver recovery centre, veterinarians say.
The Steller sea lion dubbed “Ukee” was euthanized after spending two weeks in critical care at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.
Head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena said the choice to put down the sea lion was difficult, but had to be made.
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Ukee’s condition remains critical and he won’t eat fish offered to him, rescue centre staff say. (Marine Mammal Rescue Centre Handout)
“He wasn’t responding to treatment, and his condition had taken a significant downturn in the last two days,” Haulena said in a statement. “At this point we had to evaluate his quality of life. Although we are disappointed we couldn’t return him to full health, we are glad we could end his suffering and make his final days more comfortable.”
Ukee was found on a rocky shoreline of Ucluelet with gunshot wounds to his head and was severely emaciated. Experts said the 8 to 10-year-old sea lion also appeared to be blind and unable to forage for any food.
On Oct. 11, a massive team of personnel including staff from the rescue centre, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Parks Canada and other local volunteers staged an operation to rescue the animal.
At under 350 kilograms, he was far under normal weight for adult Steller sea lions, but was still the biggest animal ever admitted to the rescue centre, staff said.
After Ukee was rescued, Haulena had strong words for whoever may have shot him.
“This is clearly a serious animal welfare issue,” he said at the time. “It is unacceptable to shoot sea lions. Based on his body condition, this individual has been suffering for many weeks.”
Anyone who sees a marine mammal in distress is asked to immediately report it to the rescue centre at 604-258-7325 or the DFO hotline at 1-800-465-4336.
Exposing the Big Game 
Reblogged this on Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting Blog.
Poor baby. Some people are so terrible. I just read a story yesterday about someone who glued a kitten to a road! Luckily a driver saw the kitten, took him to the vet and then the family adopted him.
And I’m still waiting to hear what will become of the POS who kicked a rescue dog to death at Warren Correctional
hellholeprison in OH! Who could put an innocent dog in that kind of environment. I’m sure we will never know.Prisons are taking in rescue dogs and approved inmates are putting them thru obedience classes, etc. to help get them ready for adoption. There are more than a few programs of this type in prisons around the country and they have been very successful. I truly hope the sonofabitch who did this gets shanked, at the very least.
Yes. It is supposedly the second most violent prison in the state, a high security prison, and overcrowded by nearly half. When I think of a sweet, innocent animal subjected to the worst of human nature, I cringe. I’ll pray that justice is served. “Found unresponsive in his cell”.
I think these kinds of programs can work, but it wasn’t a good idea for a high security, drug infested place housing violent offenders. Non-violent offenders probably could benefit. That poor dog. Apparently the ‘investigation’ was given to the Ohio Highway Patrol (?), and that was three months ago. You can see that it doesn’t have much of a priority.
Spark of divinity? I’d say Old Sparky and deliver it.
Sad but not surprising considering what species is running the world. When it comes to animals, every country is a S*** hole country.
So many humans are monsters
Why must the human race always resort to violence?! Someone needs to pay dearly!!! A damn shame for this poor soul. RIP.
stop allowing guns on boats beause all the commercial fishemen sthoot these animals. it is massive horror. this one madeit to shore so we could find him. others die at sea. commercial fisherment are profit driven and kill and murder endlessly. keep all guns off boats. now. this has been going on for hundreds of years. we need to stop these nasty evil violent fishermen
They can be like ocean cattle ranchers – every other living thing is competition for fish, and a ‘threat to their livelihood’. 😦