Wounded Sea Lion Heading To San Francisco Zoo

SAUSALITO, Calif. (AP) -- A sea lion discovered with a gunshot wound to the face on a Sausalito beach has found a home at the San Francisco Zoo.

   A spokesman for the Marine Mammal Center, where the animal named Silent Knight is currently being held and treated, says the transfer is expected to occur sometime next month.

   The Marin Independent Journal reports that zoo officials are rebuilding a sea lion pool that is currently empty to accommodate Silent Knight and another sea lion, Henry.

   Silent Knight -- a 7-foot-long, 350-pound male -- was found with about six metal buckshot pellets in its head on Swede's Beach on Dec. 8. The shooting left it blind and unable to return to the wild.

   Henry is also blind although it's not clear how it was blinded.