Police appeal for information after baby seal shot
Authorities have offered up a reward of $20,000 USD ($29,000 AUD) in exchange for information after a baby seal was shot dead on a beach in Southern California.
The fatally wounded male sea lion was discovered on August 7th between two lifeguard stations at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Orange County, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The animal was estimated to be just two years old and died the day after it was found, with an examination revealing the seal had a gunshot wound to the back, according to a statement from NOAA.
The agency said its law enforcement division was offering the reward "for information leading to a civil penalty or criminal conviction" in connection with the shooting, as the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits harassing, hunting, capturing or killing sea lions and other marine mammals.
Violators can face criminal penalties, fines, and the forfeiture of any vessel involved in the incident.
NOAA spokesperson Michael Milstein told USA TODAY that the agency hopes "the reward offer will help encourage someone who may have seen something or heard something unusual to let us know to help us identify a suspect in this case."
"We do get sea lions regularly that have been shot but this animal was still alive when found, so the wound was fresh and it was on a public beach, which hopefully increases the odds that someone knows something about what happened," Milstein added.
Image credits: NOAA