A disturbing video from San Diego’s famed La Jolla Cove shows a man confronting and kicking a sea lion Wednesday night, an incident that has sparked outrage after spreading online.
In the footage, the man walks toward a sea lion resting on a low concrete wall. He first kicks in its direction, then appears to land another kick to the animal’s body, prompting the sea lion to scramble away. The man then follows it briefly, striking a mocking, threatening stance before abandoning the chase.
People nearby can be heard laughing during the encounter, even as the apparent animal abuse unfolds in front of them.
Investigators with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are examining the viral La Jolla Cove sea lion video, NBC San Diego reported.
Attacking a sea lion is a federal offense. In a recent case, a California man was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting the typically docile marine mammals.
The man seen kicking the sea lion has not been publicly identified.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, better known as PETA, denounced the incident.
“Assault is ASSAULT, no matter the species,” the group wrote on X.
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“This abuser laughed while harassing and kicking a sea lion who was desperately trying to escape. Thanks to everyone who reported it; the case is now under investigation. Leave animals ALONE, and always speak up when you witness abuse,” they added.
San Diego police told NBC that they are referring anyone with information to NOAA.
The Sierra Club’s Seal Society initially reported the incident, which they told NBC San Diego is unacceptable.
“That kind of behavior is not acceptable. Whether it’s a person being punched or an animal. (The sea lions) are a protected species. That was an assault, and they should be prosecuted for it,” Robyn Davidoff, chair of the Sierra Club Seal Society, said.
Tourists in the area expressed their horror at the terrible attacks.
“(I say) press charges immediately to the full extent of the law because they’re innocent creatures,” Julissa Garza, visiting from Texas, told NBC San Diego.
“They’ve been warned. They’ve seen the signs, and if they still do that, I think there definitely should be consequences,” Heidi Woo, from Carmel Valley, said of tourists ignoring warning signs.
Sea lions are approaching their mating season and are in the middle of their summer pupping timeframe, which sees newborn sea lions emerge.
Davidoff told SF Gate that human interaction with the pups may be leading to their deaths because their mothers have a hard time recognizing their scent when humans touch them. 50% of the pups born this season have died, Davidoff said. Only 10% of pups have died in the area not open to human interaction.
