Rescuers freed a Steller’s sea lion entangled in a plastic strap in the Salish Sea.
Drone footage revealed the strap cutting deeply into the animal’s neck, alerting conservation teams quickly.
Scientists from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance helped coordinate the multi-agency effort to save the near-threatened mammal.
Teamwork Powers Swift Intervention
Marine experts from SeaDoc Society, The Whale Museum, and Vancouver Aquarium veterinarians joined the rescue operation.
They sedated the sea lion, removed the plastic strap carefully, and monitored its recovery after the procedure.
The animal swam and fed normally soon after, showing the success of coordinated wildlife intervention.
Technology Combats Ocean Plastic Threats
Scientists used drones to locate and track the entangled sea lion, proving innovative tools improve rescue efficiency.
The case highlights the dangers of ocean plastic pollution to marine mammals in critical habitats.
Drones and teamwork together provide a model for future wildlife conservation and emergency response efforts.
