A video of a man kicking a Sea Lion in California is going viral this week. The video appears on the Pacific Beach Instagram account, and the account said the clip was originally a private video that had been leaked. It looks like the sea lion was sitting on the edge of a wall when the man approached the animal, and then squared up multiple times, kicking the creature.
NBC San Diego covered the footage before the video gained national attention, with outlets like NBC News jumping in on the coverage. Now, the video is being used as part of a federal investigation into the attack on the sea lion.
For those who don’t know, sea lions are protected animals, and harassing them is prohibited under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. If found guilty, violators could be charged with penalties of more than $30,000 per incident, as well as possible jail time.
There was no update on the condition of the sea lion as of the time of publication, but he does appear to scoot away as the video ends.
Sea Lions Have Been Frequenting La Jolla Cove
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According to NBC News, sea lion populations have been growing at La Jolla Cove, and authorities have tried to find some safer places for the marine animals to spend their days so that they have less contact with visitors. In fact, officials have been working hard to keep the sea lion population safe and happy, and park rangers tour the area daily where they offer information and safety tips to visitors.
But none of that seemed to matter Wednesday night, when the video was reportedly taken. Now, many groups are calling for this person to be prosecuted, with Robyn Davidoff, chair of the Seal Society, telling the outlet that this type of behavior is unacceptable. “Because these are a protected species, this is assault,” she said.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement is leading the investigation into this crime, and local officials have reportedly said that anyone with questions or information about the incident should reach out to them.
Wild Animals Deserve Respect and Distance
Humans are lucky enough to live in a time when there is still so much natural wonder and wildlife to be seen. But it’s our duty to treat them with respect in order to ensure their continued survival. According to the National Park Service (NPS), that means giving wildlife a wide berth when we see them in their natural habitat.
Otherwise, we could stress the animals out, causing them to act unpredictably. In extreme cases, this can also cause them to leave their natural habitat, which could limit their access to food and water. Also, the NPS says you should always keep your hands to yourself, leaving any animals exactly as you found them (especially smaller critters that you could pick up and move).
Lastly, the NPS advises people to keep their kids and pets close when around animals in the wild. It not only protects wildlife, but it could also help keep your loved ones safe as well.