The 2-year-old male sea lion was discovered between two lifeguard stations at the Orange County beach on Aug. 7, NOAA Fisheries announced in an Instagram post Wednesday. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center retrieved the animal, but it died the next day. An examination revealed that the sea lion had a fresh gunshot wound in its back. The federal Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits harassing, hunting, capturing or killing sea lions and other marine mammals. Dead or stranded marine animals can be reported to the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network at (866) 767-6114.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 10, 2024 18:52 UTC