Dear Marmamers Sea turtles situation is critical in mejillones del Sur bay in northern Chile. Lots of turtles has been attacked by sea lion Otaria flavescens that show an anomalous behavior. These specimens use to feed on remains at fishing markets or directly from human hand by people that enjoy doing that. Unfortunately that kind of feeding is not permanent and sea lions having lost their natural and wild abilities to capture fish like their congeners, they are killing sea turtles that congregates in the area due to a thermal discharge in the coast. Every day sea lions are killing sea turtles. They attack them from the bottom and bite their neck lacerating their skin and muscles until death. Some times two sea lions attack one turtle and eat their flippers and neck. We are concern that this anomalous behavior soon may be learn by more sea lions. There are close to 5000 individuals in the area of the peninsula therefore the threat for the turtles is really high and it is urgent to do something. Remove the anomalous specimens sea lions is needed but we don't have expertise nor implements to immobilize them. Perhaps specialists from a zoo or from another institution may help. Please contact us to manage how to capture anomalous sea lions and we can transport and free them in some other place far from the turtles. Regards Dr. Carlos Guerra-Correa Director Centro de Rescate y Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre Universidad de Antofagasta Chile 56 55 637030 56 55 387339 +56 94790755 celular director.crea@uantof.cl copia a tursiops@uantof.cl No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.0/927 - Release Date: 30/07/2007 05:02 p.m.