California Sea Lion Found Shot Dead in Napa Valley Vineyard

SAUSALITO, CA July 8, 2004 -- Officials from The Marine Mammal Center performed a necropsy on a male California sea lion, named "Shopper," and determined that the animal died as a result of a gun-shot wound to the head. The animal had become a regular sight up in the Petaluma river area where local store owners first spotted him, and gave him the name "Shopper" last month. The Center rescued the pinniped on June 18th, transporting the 286-pound animal to its main hospital in Sausalito. There, Shopper was examined, and given a clean bill of health to be released. Volunteers and staff released Shopper at Drake's Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore on June 22nd.     Days later, he made his way to the Napa river, and eventually to a vineyard where he was found dead.

"Our staff and volunteers are sad and disgusted that someone would shoot such a beautiful creature," said Jim Oswald, communications manager for The Marine Mammal Center. "Unfortunately, these shootings happen regularly. Ten percent of California sea lions that we rescue are shot, and each year, that percentage appears to go up."

Officials from The Center notified The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) about the shooting. An investigation is pending. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call NMFS' hotline at 1-800-853-1964. It is illegal to shoot, harm or harass a marine mammal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

The Marine Mammal Center relies on public support to help protect and rehabilitate California sea lions, elephant seals, harbor seals and other marine mammals that have been harmed like Shopper, yet survive. Donations to support surgical procedures to remove bullets and pellets from injured animals may be made by going to www.marinemammalcenter.org.

The Marine Mammal Center is a non-profit hospital dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals that are found ill, injured or orphaned, along 600 miles of northern and central California coastline. Since 1975, The Center has rescued over 10,000 California sea lions, elephant seals, sea otters, harbor seals and other marine life. It uniquely combines its rehabilitation program with scientific discovery and education programs throughout the Bay Area and the world, to advance the understanding of marine mammal health, ocean health and to promote conservation.




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