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

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Level 2 Medical School North Building, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Roger W. Byard

  2. Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA), Adelaide, Australia

    Roger W. Byard

  3. Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organization (AMWRRO), Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia

    Aaron Machado

Authors
  1. Roger W. Byard
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  2. Aaron Machado
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Correspondence to Roger W. Byard.

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Permission for publication was given by the Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organization (AMWRRO).

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Byard, R.W., Machado, A. Characteristic “neck collar” injuries in Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) caused by marine debris. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 15, 631–634 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-018-0060-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-018-0060-1

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