Sarow
This California sea lion, nicknamed Sarow, was rescued from Morro Rock in San Luis Obispo County on October 4, 2011. Sarow, a one and a half year-old, tells a unique and powerful story. This 53 pound sea lion was found on the beach lethargic and when brought to the Marine Mammal Center was diagnosed with a gunshot wound!
Luckily for Sarow, our team of veterinarians were able to perform surgery and remove the bullet that had lodged in his head, just behind the right ear. Sarow was quick to recover, and with plenty of food and medication, he was able to overcome his pneumonia and malnutrition as well. To be certain Sarow was ok and ready to be released back to the ocean, our veterinary staff choose to perform both an xray and a MRI to see how his head had recovered from the gunshot wound and what we discovered was truly remarkable: Sarow had a pocket of air trapped in his brain! This is only the second time in history that this disorder, known as pneumocerebellum, has ever been seen in a living marine mammal (the first was a sea lion admitted to the Center in 2009 named Cha Cha). For more information on the disease and Cha Cha's story, you can see a paper published by The Marine Mammal Center on the case here.
Clearly a pocket of air trapped in your head surrounding the cerebellum can never be a good thing, and despite behaving normally and being able to eat, Sarow seemed to be suffering from cognitive impairments, failing to navigate and remember certain tasks when tested. Due to the brain damage, our veterinary staff decided he was not able to survive in the wild but could live a perfectly healthy life in captivity, and we are now looking for a zoo or aquarium where he can live out the rest of his life.
While The Marine Mammal Center has no influence in when/where Sarow is placed (that decision is made by The National Marine Fisheries Service) we are still caring for Sarow making sure he gets all of his needed food and nutrients to remain healthy before he gets transferred to his new home.
Even though it is against the law to hurt or harm any marine mammal, sadly, Sarow is just one of hundreds of marine mammals the Center has admitted in its 36 year history with trauma due to gunshot wounds. Please help spread the word of how important these animals are to the ocean ecosystem and stop the intentional hurting of this majestic animals. If you have any information regarding someone shooting a marine mammal, please report it immediately to the NOAA Law Enforcement line at (831)-647-2127.
Want to help feed Sarow? Your donation can help him today!
