Venice Beach Sea Lion Murdered

 

Animal rights groups Marine Animal Rescue (MAR) and Friends of Animals are offering a $5,000 reward for any information that will lead to the culprit responsible for a fatal sea lion shooting.

Peter Wallerstein, founder and director of MAR, was called to Venice beach on August 3 to respond to reports about an injured adult sea lion who had made it to shore. He was bleeding profusely from a hole in his side.

Wallerstein discovered three bullets and confirmed the sex of the sea lion as female.

"I see this thing too many times, from seal bombs to shootings," Wallerstein says. "He made it to the beach, but it's just the tip of the iceberg," he says of the recent death. "How many countless animals don't make it to the beach? I want to bring the brutality of it to light."

National Marine Fishery Service is going to do forensic testing to if they can match the three recovered bullets to the gun used to shoot the sea lion.

Thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it's a crime to kill marine animals, Punishment includes a $100,000 fine and up to a year in prison.

If you have any information on this sea lion's death, please contact the Marine Animal Rescue Hotline at 1-800-39-WHALE.

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Source: Huffington Post Los Angeles