We told you in recent days about the South American sea lion renamed Saylor saved in Verona after being found in dramatic conditions inside a van transformed into an improvised cage. The 21-year-old pinniped, deprived of adequate space, clean water and the possibility of diving, was forced to live in a few centimeters of dirty water, without any contact with his peers.
The situation was discovered thanks to the complaint from LAV, which reported the case to the Carabinieri of the CITES unit and to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Verona. The seizure of the animal was carried out by the CITES Forestry Carabinieri with the support of the NIPAaF. The owner of the sea lion, together with two other people, was referred to the judicial authorities on suspicion of animal cruelty.
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Is this really freedom?
Thanks to this action, Saylor was able to leave the cramped vehicle and we all hoped for a better future for him. Unfortunately, however, this is not the case or at least it is only partially so. Saylor was in fact transferred to the Naples zoo, where he was able to immerse himself in large tanks under the constant supervision of specialized personnel.
Here he started swimming lessons, learning to move in the water after years of forced immobility. At 300 kilos, it is already attracting the attention of visitors and at the same time is slowly regaining contact with the water. The management of the zoo specifies that, if other suitable Italian or European structures are not available, Saylor will remain in permanent custody of the structure also due to his advanced age.
A solution which, although certainly better than the previous life in a circus container, cannot make us sleep peacefully. Saylor simply went from captivity in terrible conditions to better conditions but still in captivity and not in freedom and immersed in nature as he deserves.
True freedom, that of choosing where to go and what to do, Saylor will never know. The case of this sea lion released in Verona is a clear example of how recovery from abuse is possible, but also of how contradictory the proposed solutions are. Yes, he can now swim, receive treatment and live safely, but he will continue to live in the spotlight as if he were a “living spectacle” and in an environment that only minimally replicates his natural life.
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