Federal wildlife authorities are conducting an investigation after a video surfaced showing a person kicking a protected sea lion on a California beach. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed the ongoing inquiry but did not provide further details on the incident as of Sunday.
The video depicts a person repeatedly kicking a sea lion at La Jolla Cove in San Diego, accompanied by sounds of laughter from another individual. The assailant continues to follow the sea lion, delivering more kicks as the distressed animal attempts to escape, before the recording ends.
NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement is actively examining reports related to the video, shared widely on social media. The individual depicted in the footage remains unidentified. Harassment of sea lions, which are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, can lead to civil fines up to $36,000 and imprisonment for up to one year.
A spokesperson explained the agency’s limited enforcement capacity, noting that California is patrolled by only four officers, supplemented by partnerships with local park rangers and California Fish and Wildlife personnel. Volunteers from the Seal Society, such as Ashley Hurwitz, also provide oversight at the cove but lack enforcement power.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria expressed his disgust over the incident, labeling it as “an unacceptable act of animal cruelty” on X. He acknowledged the federal investigation and has instructed local law enforcement to review the video evidence.
Reports from the Sierra Club’s Seal Society indicate that this year, ten sea lion pups have died at La Jolla Cove, potentially due to mothers abandoning their young when frightened by human activities.
In a related incident in May, law enforcement arrested a tourist in Maui for allegedly throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, a case his lawyer argued was in defense of sea turtles.