Sea lion found beheaded at San Francisco's Ocean Beach, prompting investigation
Wildlife experts believe the marine mammal was beheaded post-mortem by someone.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Authorities are investigating a disturbing discovery at San Francisco's Ocean Beach after a dead sea lion washed ashore and was subsequently decapitated.
Wildlife experts believe the marine mammal was beheaded post-mortem by someone.
"Maybe the person who did this didn't know that it was illegal, or maybe they did," said Sue Pemberton of the California Academy of Sciences. "Sometimes the legality of it doesn't really stop people. I don't really know what this person was thinking, but people might collect them for the novelty of having a trophy of some sort."
This is not an isolated incident. A separate decapitated sea lion was discovered further down the coast on a beach in Pacific Grove.
MORE: Sick sea lion dies on SF beach in latest neurotoxin case connected to warmer waters
Officials remind the public that interfering with marine mammal carcasses is a serious federal offense.
Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, collecting parts from a sea lion carcass is strictly prohibited and punishable by up to one year in jail and up to $36,000 in criminal fines.
Anyone who encounters a dead or stranded marine mammal is urged to leave the animal alone and immediately report the sighting to local wildlife authorities or the Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
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