Sea Lion With Knife Stuck In Its Face Rescued By Volunteer

OXNARD, CA — A sea lion who was stabbed in the face was rescued over the weekend by a conservation volunteer in the area of the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard.

The incident occurred Sunday near the public boat launch ramp, where a volunteer with the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute used a pole with a hook blade to pull the knife from the 400-pound animal’s muzzle.

“This sentinel animal now has a second chance at life in the wild,” Ruth Dover, managing director of the institute, said in an email.

The knife did not hit any vital structures in the sea lion’s face and the volunteer was able to remove it without cutting the animal, according to the institute, which reported the wound is expected to heal on its own.

“Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (CIMWI) does not know what brought about this violent act on this sea lion,” Dover said, noting marine mammals are federally protected. “CIMWI reported the incident to NOAA Fisheries' Enforcement and hopes the responsible party(ies) is held accountable.”

The sea lion's only reaction to the volunteer occurred as the blade was removed, and the animal quickly jumped off a dock, swam around for about 10 minutes and hopped onto a nearby dock finger to sun himself.

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to contact the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at 800-853-1964 or visit www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/enforcement/report-violation.