San Francisco police are investigating the discovery of a beheaded sea lion on the ocean shores of the city. According to local reports, this incident occurred in recent days on the ocean shores of San Francisco, and wildlife experts believe that the animal was beheaded after its death.
Incident Details
Susan Pemberton, a wildlife expert from the California Academy of Sciences, stated that the person who did this may have been unaware of its illegality or may have knowingly committed this act. She emphasized that sometimes "the legality of this act really does not deter individuals."
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Pemberton also added: "I really don’t know what this person was thinking, but it’s possible that individuals have collected these animals for some kind of trophy."
Similar Incidents
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. Last year, another headless sea lion was found on the shores of Pacific Grove. In that incident, a suspect was reported to have tried to carry the head in a zip-lock bag.
Officials have strongly emphasized that interfering with the carcasses of marine mammals is considered a federal crime that carries heavy penalties. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, removing parts of a sea lion carcass is illegal and may result in fines of up to $36,000 and a year in prison.
Beachgoers who encounter a dead or stranded marine mammal are strongly advised to stay away and report their observations to local wildlife authorities or marine mammal rescue networks.
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Source: independent.co.uk
