OR Sea Lion Branding Injures Animals, Say Activists

So, government hurts animals while protecting them? You don't say ...

Sea Shepherd activists are monitoring California sea lions on the Columbia River, where on Sunday in Astoria, Ore., they photographed a state branding operation that triggered bursts of flames on the hides of some animals.

"It was horrific to watch," said Ashley Lenton, a campaign leader for the Friday Harbor-based group that has launched international campaigns to save whales and other marine mammals.

In the Pacific Northwest, the group opposes the killing of sea lions lion to reduce predation on threatened and endangered salmon.

Last year, 10 sea lions were euthanized, and those removals are scheduled to resume this spring.