Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have been herding sea lions into traps and burning into their flesh a brand number with hot irons. This marks the animal for to be gunned down and put to death by identifying it with a number- because it eats salmon. After being branded, the sea lions have been described as "lying on the docks trembling", surely suffering in pain after such a cruel and barbaric assault.
The term "humane" (under Definitions 16,U.S.C. 1362, #4 set forth by the Marine Mammal Protection Act), in the context of taking a marine mammal means that the method of taking which involves the least degree of pain and suffering to the mammal involved.
Furthermore, Federal Officials have declared an "unusual mortality event" with more than 900 sea lions have become stranded since January 1st. and more than 500 of them have died from dehydration and starvation.
The branding is cruel enough in itself; but to kill them for eating their natural food source, while so many are starving to death is barbaric, and certianly not sound science. There is no telling at this point how many sea lions will strand themselves and die. We insist that you demand Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife stop immediately the unnessary branding and shooting of sea lions.
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries
Dr. Jane Lubcheno
1315 East- West Highway
Silver Springs, Maryland, 20910
Marine Mammal Commission
4340 East- West Highway
Bethesda, Maryland, 20814
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have been herding sea lions into traps and burning into their flesh a brand number with hot irons. This marks the animal for to be gunned down and put to death by identifying it with a number- because it eats salmon. After being branded, the sea lions have been described as "lying on the docks trembling", surely suffering in pain after such a cruel and barbaric assault.
The term "humane" (under Definitions 16,U.S.C. 1362, #4 set forth by the Marine Mammal Protection Act), in the context of taking a marine mammal means that the method of taking which involves the least degree of pain and suffering to the mammal involved.
Furthermore, Federal Officials have declared an "unusual mortality event" with more than 900 sea lions have become stranded since January 1st. and more than 500 of them have died from dehydration and starvation.
The branding is cruel enough in itself; but to kill them for eating their natural food source, while so many are starving to death is barbaric, and certianly not sound science. There is no telling at this point how many sea lions will strand themselves and die. We insist that you demand Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife stop immediately the unnessary branding and shooting of sea lions.
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries
Dr. Jane Lubcheno
1315 East- West Highway
Silver Springs, Maryland, 20910
Marine Mammal Commission
4340 East- West Highway
Bethesda, Maryland, 20814
