Update on Tillie
After last week's post about "Tillie" the sea lion, I wanted to give an update on his condition. Last Tuesday Tillie was two days post-surgery. He was lethargic, extremely weak, and not eating on his own (because of the fishing net wrapped around his head and mouth it had probably been weeks since he had eaten, or even swallowed anything). When we restrained him for tube feeding, he laid flat on the ground without resisting, and his eyes rolled back in his head. We didn't think he would survive the tubing, let alone the day.
I went to work this past Tuesday the 24th half-expecting to see Tillie's pen empty. However, I was very pleasantly surprised to see him alert and active! As soon as I threw "breakfast" in his pool he jumped in and swam around, quickly gobbling down all of his fish. His improvement is remarkable, and barring any persistent infection, I think he will be ready for release in a few weeks.
Unfortunately, Tillie will always carry with him the scars and disfiguration caused by the fishing net.
I went to work this past Tuesday the 24th half-expecting to see Tillie's pen empty. However, I was very pleasantly surprised to see him alert and active! As soon as I threw "breakfast" in his pool he jumped in and swam around, quickly gobbling down all of his fish. His improvement is remarkable, and barring any persistent infection, I think he will be ready for release in a few weeks.
Unfortunately, Tillie will always carry with him the scars and disfiguration caused by the fishing net.