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Animal group offers reward for killer of sea lions
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This little guy was the fifth victim of the sea lion
shootings at Southern California beaches. No
one knows who is behind the brutal killings.
Sea lions are being attacked on the beaches in Los Angeles County. At least five have been shot since the beginning of the year. Now the Marine Animal Rescue Group has posted a $5,000 reward for information about the crimes.
Peter Wallerstein, founder of the rescue group was recently called to look at a baby sea lion that was reported hurt on a Santa Monica beach. He hoped the animal was not badly injured.
"When we arrived on scene we saw this little 30-pound, 9-month-old sea lion pup lying on the beach," Wallerstein said. “At first glance, the animal appeared healthy. Then he started dragging his back end like he couldn't move it," he said. "I was hoping it wasn't what I thought it was."
A radiograph confirmed that a bullet had severed the pup's spine and he had to be euthanized, Wallerstein said.
Wallerstein and other experts suspect the shootings are being done by fishermen. Sea lions have grown in population in recent years and they compete with fisherman for food. Out of the five sea lions that have been shot, three have died.
Sea lions are a protected species and it is illegal to harm them. Fishermen are allowed to use alternative methods to scare away the animals such as a firecracker device that is made to explode underwater.
Sadly, Wallerstein is used to seeing sea lions injured by fishermen, but the number being killed is a new phenomenon. Because of this new trend, authorities are not sure who is killing the animals.
Could it be that fishermen are more desperate because of the slow economy or is it some new human predator? If anyone has information about the shootings please contact the Marine Animal Rescue Group at: 1 (800) 39-WHALE.
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