Photo credit: Vancouver Aquarium
A somber but hopeful post today: Veterinarians at the Vancouver Aquarium are trying to save the life of an adult male sea otter injured and blinded by gunshots. The aquarium writes:
Members of the public saw the animal in distress along the shoreline of Tofino, B.C. last week and reported a number of disconcerting signs. The sea otter appeared to have suffered serious injuries to his flippers and remained in the same location for an extended period of time. It failed to flee when members of the public approached to investigate his condition.
The sea otter was brought to our Rescue Centre on October 18 where he is receiving critical care from Rescue Centre staff. The team is working to stabilize him but diagnostic tests revealed that his condition is very serious. . .
A number of procedures have been performed on the ailing sea otter, including a partial amputation of his injured flipper. Due to his injuries, he cannot effectively groom himself, which is essential for a sea otter’s thermoregulation. Dr. [Martin] Haulena and the veterinary team at the Rescue Centre are stabilizing his temperature by towel- and blow-drying him by hand.
Photo credit: Neil Fisher/Vancouver Aquarium
Dr. Haulena explains the extent of the otter's injuries in this video, filmed October 21:
The otter, whom some are calling Pirate, "is currently being treated with fluids, pain medication and antibiotics. The veterinary team is hopeful the sea otter will recover."
Check out the Vancouver Sun for another video interview with Dr. Haulena and Metro News for more photos.
The Daily Otter cheers on Pirate in his recovery! Thanks to Eileen and Anya for bringing the story to our attention!