Characteristic "neck collar" injuries in Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) caused by marine debris.

ABSTRACT

An adult male Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) presented with a deep, almost circumferential, incised wound around the neck caused by a noose formed by a single strand of green nylon rope. The wound extended 4-5 cm deeply through the skin and blubber into skeletal muscle, predominantly on the dorsal surface and left side, but had not involved the airway or major vessels. The edges of the wound were sharply incised and oozing blood with a granulating infected base. The rope was removed and the wound debrided of necrotic tissues and irrigated with disinfectant. Antibiotic and rehydration therapy were successful and the seal was released after 2 weeks of treatment. Entanglement injuries such as "neck collars" have characteristic features, are increasing in incidence and often have lethal outcomes. This type of injury may significantly impact upon populations of pinnipeds in the wild.