Mystery as decapitated sea lions keep washing up on beaches on Vancouver Island

DECAPITATED sea lions have been washing ashore on Canada’s Vancouver Island — and experts believe humans are to blame.

For months, the ocean creatures have been seen with what appears to be purposeful injuries, according to marine mammal zoologist Anna Hall.

Deborah Short

Decapitated sea lions have been washing ashore in Canada[/caption]

Hall told CTV News: “To me, this looks intentional, whether it’s by a single person or a group of people.”

“I sincerely hope that Fisheries and Oceans Canada pursues this case to determine who is doing this and to bring them to justice because this is a violation of federal law.”

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Marine mammal zoologist Anna Hall said it appears the sea lions have purposely been decapitated by humans[/caption]

The news outlet reported on photos taken by a resident named Deborah Short, who said she’s personally come across several headless sealines.

She first found one while walking along a beach at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

“I was devastated, completely devastated by it,” she told CTV. “I couldn’t believe that somebody could sever the head of a sea lion.”

“It was shocking to me.”

Short added to CBC News: “Not only was I horrified, I was angry. It was beyond me how anybody could possibly harm such beautiful creatures.”

She soon learned of another decapitated sea lion, and continued to come across more herself.

Deborah Short

An image of a headless sea lion that was found in recent months is seen here[/caption]

Short said she’s heard of five headline sea lions that have washed ashore in the area.

“When you see something like that, it moves you,” Short said. “It moves you in a way where you want to find more, and you want to do something about it.”

Most recently, Short said, she came across a headline sea lion on June 10, and also saw a seal that was skinned nearby.

Hall told the CBC from looking at photos, she believes the sea lions are Steller sea lions, “which are a species at risk in Canada.”

Deborah Short

Fisheries and Oceans Canada said they’re investigating the headless sea lions[/caption]

The species’ natural predators include killer whales and sharks.

But, Hall said: “It seems more likely that it is human-caused.”

The CBC reported that in 2013, four decapitated sea lions were found on Vancouver Island Beaches, and in 2014, 12 seal carcasses were found at St Lawrence in Quebec.

In Canada, marine mammals are legally protected by the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act — and the status of Steller sea lions are considered “special concern.”

Fisheries and Oceans Canada told CTV they’re investigating why the sea lions are washing ashore without heads.

A spokesperson later said: “From time to time, individuals may tamper with the animals once beached.”

“If this is determined to have been done in an effort to knowingly tamper with evidence, this would be an offense under the Criminal Code of Canada.”

The zoologist, Hall, said: “It’s absolutely horrific and appalling that there’s anybody on this coastline that would feel that this is an appropriate course of action with regard to a marine mammal or any animal at all.”