Federal officials investigate La Jolla sea lion video
NOAA says it is investigating footage that appears to show a man kicking a protected sea lion near La Jolla Cove.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Federal wildlife officers are investigating the La Jolla sea lion video that appears to show a man kicking and pursuing a protected animal near one of San Diego’s most watched coastal spots.
Rachel Hager, a spokesperson for NOAA Fisheries, said Saturday that the agency’s Office of Law Enforcement is looking into reports of footage showing an interaction between a person and a sea lion. Hager said the person in the video “appears to be kicking the sea lion,” and said the investigation is ongoing.
The incident was reported to have taken place Wednesday night near La Jolla Cove, according to authorities cited by NBC News. The person seen in the footage has not been publicly identified.
What happened in the La Jolla sea lion video?
NBC San Diego reported on video circulating on social media that appeared to show a young man kicking a sea lion perched along the edge of a seawall. The footage appeared to show the person continuing after the animal and kicking toward it as the sea lion tried to move away, according to the station.
NBC News said it could not immediately verify the video Saturday. Social media accounts believed to belong to the person who posted the footage appeared to have been deleted, according to NBC News.
The San Diego Police Department told NBC San Diego that it received social media tips about the video and directed concerned people to contact NOAA. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said Saturday on X that he had asked police to review the purported footage.
“This disgusting act of animal cruelty is unacceptable,” Gloria wrote on X. “We must protect our wildlife.”
NBC News reported that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the San Diego Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for information.
Why are sea lions protected at La Jolla Cove?
California sea lions are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, which bars harassment of marine mammals. Violations can carry penalties of more than $30,000 per violation and possible prison time.
La Jolla is known for California sea lions and harbor seals that gather along the rocky coastline throughout the year. During warmer months, as sea lions crowd the beach during pupping season, San Diego has taken steps to keep visitors away from certain areas.
City signs mark closed zones, ban dogs and warn people not to approach seals or sea lions. The area remains a major draw during summer tourism season, putting visitors and wildlife in close quarters.
The Sierra Club Seal Society said it reported the incident to authorities and would track the investigation. Robyn Davidoff, the group’s chair, told NBC San Diego the person accused of kicking the sea lion should face prosecution, saying the animals are a protected species.
La Jolla Cove has seen other conflicts between people and marine mammals. In February, NBC San Diego reported that a city park ranger escorted a tourist family away from sea lions after witnesses said children in the group had thrown sand and rocks at the animals.
A separate federal case in Hawaii also remains pending. Federal prosecutors in May charged Igor Lytvynchuk of Covington, Washington, with harassing and attempting to harass a protected animal after he allegedly threw a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal on Maui. His lawyer said Lytvynchuk was trying to protect sea turtles, and court records show he has pleaded not guilty.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.