Federal authorities are investigating a video that appears to show a man kicking a protected sea lion at a beach in Southern California. The footage, which surfaced on social media, depicts a man dressed in a T-shirt and shorts approaching a sea lion resting on a seawall near La Jolla Cove. The video shows the man kicking the animal once, followed by another attempt to kick the sea lion as it moves away from its resting spot. In the background, a person can be heard laughing.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement confirmed on July 24 that it is probing reports related to the video, which allegedly depicts the incident in La Jolla Cove. The agency described the interaction as involving an individual kicking the sea lion and stated that the investigation is ongoing, with no further details available at this time.
La Jolla Cove, located about 13 miles northwest of downtown San Diego, is known for its scenic coastline and serves as a habitat for a protected population of sea lions. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria publicly condemned the behavior after viewing the video, calling it an unacceptable act of animal cruelty and urging local authorities to review the footage. "We must protect our wildlife," Gloria said on social media platform X.
The San Diego Police Department acknowledged the incident in an Instagram comment, noting that federal officials are currently handling the investigation. The department encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact the NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement.
California sea lions are safeguarded under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a federal law enacted in 1972. NOAA regulations prohibit feeding, capturing, harming, killing, or harassing sea lions, with violators subject to potential criminal penalties including jail time.
Authorities have requested that members of the public who have information about this or similar cases of marine mammal harm report it to NOAA at 800-853-1964. The agency continues to emphasize the importance of protecting marine wildlife through adherence to federal conservation laws.