Reward offered to find whoever is shooting sea lions
A mammal rescue organization has offered a $5,000 reward to help find and prosecute the
people responsible for shooting sea lions along the South Bay coast.
Four sea lions have been found with bullet wounds this year, most recently Feb. 3 when a sea lion was found on a Playa del Rey beach with a bullet-severed spine.
"It's unacceptable as human beings for us to tolerate these violent actions or these people who who take it upon themselves to brutalize these animals," said Peter Wallerstein of Marine Mammal Rescue, which is offering the reward.
So far, there are no suspects, but Wallerstein blames fishermen who target sea lions that get in the way of their catches.
"There's a minority of fishermen who feel they have a right to brutalize seals and sea lions and even pelicans," he said.
Of the four sea lions recently discovered, only one survived. The sea lion found on Torrance beach has a bullet embedded in her brain, Wallerstein said.
Two weeks ago, Wallerstein responded to Playa del Rey resident's to help a sea lion that had beached himself on the sand.
"He used his flippers and slowly and painfuly was dragging his back end," Wallerstein said. "I knew something had happened to that animal."
Wallerstein took the sea lion to a rescue center, where it was discovered that a bullet had shattered his spine. The sea lion was euthanized.
"That's when I decided we needed to step up our actions," he said. "We hope that people keep their eyes and ears open and let us know if they see anyting suspicious."
Wallerstein said it was difficult to know if any other sea lions that were shot failed to make it to shore.
Investigators with the National Fisheries service are looking into the matter.
Wallerstein said the sea lions are simply looking for food when they interact with the fishermen.
"It's their ocean too," he said. "They are looking for fish. "They are around the boats. Some of the young ones haven't learned about life. They try to go for an easy catch."
Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to contact 1-800-39-WHALE.
About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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