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Federal officials investigating after video appears to show man kicking a sea lion on a California beach
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Federal officials, including NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement, are investigating a video showing a man allegedly kicking and harassing a protected sea lion at La Jolla Cove in San Diego.
- The incident reportedly occurred Wednesday night on a city-operated beach where sea lions have become plentiful, prompting city efforts to restrict human access to their habitat.
- San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria condemned the act as animal cruelty and requested police review the video, while the Sierra Club Seal Society called for prosecution, citing the Marine Mammal Protection Act which imposes hefty fines and possible prison time for harassment.
- The sea lion population increases during pupping season, and the city has posted signs to keep visitors away, but human-wildlife conflicts continue, including previous incidents of harassment and enforcement actions.
- The identity of the individual in the video remains unknown, and social media accounts linked to the video poster appear to have been deleted; authorities continue their investigation.
