2023-05-16 14:14:41
A juvenile male sea lion of the South American Two-Haired species (Arctocephalus australis) was rescued in the Buenos Aires town of Aguas Verdes with a deep wound around its neck, caused by a plastic strap that is commonly used for industrial-type packaging, they reported. this Tuesday spokespersons for the Mundo Marino Foundation.
On May 11, a neighbor from the coastal town of Aguas Verdes called us to let us know that he had seen the animal with something strange on its neck. When we arrived at the place, from afar, we did notice an alteration in that area of the animal’s body,” explained Sergio Rodríguez Heredia, biologist and head of the Fundación Mundo Marino Rescue Center.
In this context, he specified: “We came with security tools to cut these types of objects, such as pieces of netting or half the world, and, if the animal was well, prioritizing that it remain in its place.”
Elephant seal in Península Valdés, almost died strangled by a motor belt. We managed to cut it in time with the Rangers pic.twitter.com/1dePBkY9dK
— Gaby Bellazzi (@GabyBellazzi) May 13, 2023
“However, in this case, given such a wound, we chose to take him to the rescue center, they asserted from Mundo Marino.
Upon arrival at the rescue center located in San Clemente del Tuyú, the veterinary team proceeded to anesthetize the animal to review the wound in its entirety.
“Under the effect of anesthesia, we verified that, between the folds of the skin, the animal still had the plastic strap that had caused such a wound. Unfortunately, although we do not perceive it, these types of cases of seriously injured animals warn us and give us a message regarding the threats to which marine fauna is exposed, stressed Rodríguez Heredia.
In addition, during the review, a clinical examination of the animal was taken and a blood sample was taken: Visually we observed that the wound was infected and was deeper in the area of its throat, probably due to the movement it has in that area of the body. neck”.
Two-haired sea lion that we cut a rope around its neck, near Puerto Pirámides pic.twitter.com/BuJIUkWfTF
— Gaby Bellazzi (@GabyBellazzi) May 13, 2023
“The blood parameters showed that he had a picture of anemia and a high number of white blood cells, so we gave him an anti-anemic complex and antibiotics. Although she has good body condition and attitude, the prognosis is guarded, explained Bianca Mancini, a veterinary doctor at the Mundo Marino Educational Park and the Foundation.
According to the spokespersons, the animal will remain in the Rescue Center for as long as it takes to achieve its full recovery.
Last year, and during the months of April and May, there were also three similar cases of sea lions affected by plastic straps and abandoned fishing nets.
As recalled, the first of them was a South American Two-Haired sea lion that had to be assisted by the Verdemar Rescue Foundation, in the town of Villa Gesell, when it was also found with a plastic strap. Then, the animal was referred to the Mundo Marino Foundation and, following the rehabilitation process, it might be successfully reinserted into the sea.
The second case involved a South American South American Fur Seal (Otaria flavescens), which was rescued when it was found on the beach with a fishing net attached to its body in the town of San Clemente. For this, the animal was also assisted by the Mundo Marino Foundation, which, upon corroborating that the net had not hurt it, proceeded to cut it and the animal returned to the sea at that very moment.
The last case was that of another South American Dos Pelos sea lion also rescued in that town by the Mundo Marino Foundation with several turns of a nylon net that tightened around its neck and extended to under its armpits.
Unfortunately, in this last case, the animal died during the rehabilitation process, as a consequence of the seriousness of the injuries.
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