Numerous decapitated sea lions discovered on Vancouver Island and some were completed skinned – experts believe humans are at fault
- A resident of Vancouver Island, Canada discovered decapitated sea lions
- Deborah Short has found five carcasses since April along a path near the shoreline
- Experts are not yet sure what caused the deaths, but suspect it was humans
- The species is the Stellar sea lion which is deemed at risk on the island
Decapitated sea lions are washing ashore on Vancouver Island, Canada and experts suggest humans are at fault.
A resident stumbled upon five beheaded sea lions on different occasions along the shores of Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
Deborah Short was walking her dog on a path when she stumbled upon the first carcass in April and then four more over the course of a few months.
‘At first I thought it was a log and then as I got closer, I realized it was a sea lion,’ Short told Vice.
‘I immediately walked over in that direction, only to discover that its head had been severed. I was just sick to my stomach.’
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Decapitated sea lions are washing ashore on Vancouver Island, Canada and experts suggest humans are at fault. A resident stumbled upon five beheaded sea lions on different occasions along the shores of Neck Point Park in Nanaimo
After reviewing pictures of the dead animals, marine biologists noted the species is a Stellar sea lion – which are near-threatened, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Not only has Short witnessed headless sea lions, but in June she came across one that laid next to a skinned seal.
This kind of sea lion does have natural predators, such as killer whales and sharks, but according to Marine mammal zoologist Anna Hall, ‘It seems more likely that it is human caused,’ as reported by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Since April, Short has found a total of five dead sea lions, in addition to a cleaned skull next to a body.
After reviewing pictures of the dead animals, marine biologists noted the species is a Stellar sea lion – which are near-threatened, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature
The beheaded sea lions are washing ashore on Vancouver Island in Canada
Short has done her own investigation into the deaths and found several proposals from First Nations groups, native tribes in Canada, that state they should be allowed to harvest local sea lions as the population has experienced a boom.
However, Hall said Stellar sea lions are deemed an ‘at-risk’ population in Canada.
More than 70 percent of the entire species births take place on the island’s northwestern tip.
As reported by the CBC, the five headless sea lions are not the first to wash up on shore.
Deborah Short was walking her dog on a path when she stumbled upon the first carcass in April and then four more over the course of a few months
More than 70 percent of the entire species births take place on the island’s northwestern tip
Four headless sea lions were discovered on the island in 2013 and a year later 12 were the shores of Quebec, CBC said.
However, the cause behind the gruesome deaths have never been determined.
‘It’s not the only time this has been seen but it is rare to find such large animals missing their head,’ said Hall.
Hall is calling on government officials to conduct an animal autopsy with the hopes of learning more about the decapitated sea mammals.
‘It’s absolutely horrific and appalling that there’s anybody on this coastline that would feel that this is an appropriate course of action with regard to a marine mammal or any animal at all,’ she told CTV News.