New lease on life for Vancouver Island sea lion

A California sea lion plunged into the ocean at a boat ramp near Sooke, B.C., on Friday, after a fewbarksand a quick look back over his shoulder at his rescuers.

The animal dubbed Campbell was found emaciated anddehydrated on a beach near Campbell River in October.

"We shouldn't normally be able to walk up and approach a healthy California sea lion," said Andrew Celmainis,a veterinary technicianwith theVancouverAquariumMarine Mammal Rescue Centre.

"We managed to coral him into a carrier."

Campbell was taken to the Vancouver Aquarium for two months of treatment for a fractured flipper and pneumonia in his lungs.

New lease on life for Vancouver Island sea lion

7 years ago

Duration 0:39

A California sea lion has been released back into the wild near Sooke, B.C., after receiving treatment for a fractured flipper.

When his recovery was complete, he was put back in a carrier, loaded onto a B.C. Ferry anddriven to a boat launch in Sooke, near Victoria.

As soon as the carrier door opened, Campbell sauntered down to the water and swam away.

"We have been working around the clock for two months getting him better," saidLindsay Akhurst, the manager for the rescue centre.

"For him to seem so comfortable coming out and into the water and just take off and now we can't see him any more, it's just really great to see."

Rescues on the rise

2017 has beenthe busiest year the aquarium rescue centrehas ever had, Akhurst said.

More than 200 marine creatures, including harbour seals, sea lions, fur seals and sea otters, were rehabilitated at the centre or treated in the field.

"Some people would suggest we just let nature take its course. We have seen cases, especially over the last year, with animals that it's not just nature.It's human caused,"Akhurst said.

Although Campbell was rescued on the east coast of Vancouver Island, Akhurst says he was released in Sooke where he will have no trouble finding food and new sea lion friends.