Stunning video reveals heartless punk unleash flurry of kicks at sea lion on SoCal seashore

A heartless punk squared up and kicked a sea lion on the well-known La Jolla Cove on Wednesday evening in a horrifying act caught on digicam.

The person is seen approaching the timid sea lion mendacity on a low concrete wall earlier than he kicks at it after which makes contact with one other kick to its physique, sending it harmlessly fleeing. He then chases the ocean lion with a mocking, menacing pose earlier than giving up the chase.

Bystanders are heard laughing on the wild animal abuse all through the interplay.

Investigators with the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are reviewing the viral video, in line with NBC San Diego.

Assaulting a sea lion is a federal crime, and a California man was not too long ago sentenced to a few years in jail for assaulting the docile pinnipeds.

The ocean lion kicker has not been recognized.

Folks for the Moral Remedy of Animals, or PETA, condemned the horrible act.

“Assault is ASSAULT, regardless of the species,” they wrote on X.

“This abuser laughed whereas harassing and kicking a sea lion who was desperately making an attempt to flee. Due to everybody who reported it; the case is now beneath investigation. Go away animals ALONE, and all the time communicate up while you witness abuse,” they added.

San Diego police instructed NBC that they’re referring anybody with data to NOAA.

The Sierra Membership’s Seal Society initially reported the incident, which they instructed NBC San Diego is unacceptable.

“That sort of habits isn’t acceptable. Whether or not it’s an individual being punched or an animal. (The ocean lions) are a protected species. That was an assault, and they need to be prosecuted for it,” Robyn Davidoff, chair of the Sierra Membership Seal Society, stated.

Vacationers within the space expressed their horror on the horrible assaults.

“(I say) press costs instantly to the complete extent of the legislation as a result of they’re harmless creatures,” Julissa Garza, visiting from Texas, instructed NBC San Diego.

“They’ve been warned. They’ve seen the indicators, and in the event that they nonetheless try this, I feel there undoubtedly needs to be penalties,” Heidi Woo, from Carmel Valley, stated of vacationers ignoring warning indicators.

Sea lions are approaching their mating season and are in the midst of their summer time pupping timeframe, which sees new child sea lions emerge.

Davidoff instructed SF Gate that human interplay with the pups could also be resulting in their deaths as a result of their moms have a tough time recognizing their scent when people contact them. 50% of the pups born this season have died, Davidoff stated. Solely 10% of pups have died within the space not open to human interplay.

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