California sea lion found with knife in its face

A sea lion was found with a knife stuck in its snout on a beach in Oxnard, California, on Monday, and a volunteer with the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute successfully removed the sharp object.

The adult male, estimated be about 400 pounds, was first spotted on Hollywood Beach, 50 miles northwest of Santa Monica, by the Channel Islands Harbor Patrol at 7:20 a.m., before it went into the water and swam to a dock near Channel Islands Harbor public boat launch ramp, according to a news release issued by the institute on Tuesday.

At the harbor, the volunteer removed the knife from the animal’s face using a pole with a hook-blade attached to the end. The volunteer managed to get the hook in the rope-cutter slot on the knife’s handle — pulling the hook-blade straight, then pressing slightly upward, to avoid further injuring the sea lion while removing the knife. The knife was positioned in the animal’s face in a way that “missed all vital structures,” and the wound is expected to heal, the institute said. 

“Our team member’s skilled and stealth technique using the blade hook at the end of the pole saved this animal from further danger from the knife that was imbedded in his face!” the news release said. “This sea lion now has a second chance at life.”

After the blade came out, the sea lion jumped into the water before hopping back onto a dock finger to sun itself. 

The institute posted images to social media of the sea lion with the knife in its face, and many people commented on the brutality that some marine animals face. 

“People are cruel,” wrote one.

“I can’t fathom why anyone would want to harm an innocent wild animal,” said another. “We’re invading their home. The least we as humans can do is respect their habitat and them.”

Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday morning.