Shocking video shows heartless punk unleash flurry of kicks at sea lion on SoCal beach

A heartless punk squared up and kicked a sea lion at the famous La Jolla Cove on Wednesday night in a horrifying act caught on camera.

The man is seen approaching the timid sea lion lying on a low concrete wall before he kicks at it and then makes contact with another kick to its body, sending it harmlessly fleeing. He then chases the sea lion with a mocking, menacing pose before giving up the chase.

Bystanders are heard laughing at the wild animal abuse throughout the interaction.

Investigators with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are reviewing the viral video, according to NBC San Diego.

Assaulting a sea lion is a federal crime, and a California man was recently sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting the docile pinnipeds.

The sea lion kicker has not been identified.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, condemned the terrible act.

“Assault is ASSAULT, no matter the species,” they wrote on X.

“This abuser laughed while harassing and kicking a sea lion who was desperately trying to escape. Thanks to everyone who reported it; the case is now under investigation. Leave animals ALONE, and always speak up when you witness abuse,” they added.

San Diego police told NBC that they are referring anyone with information to NOAA.

The Sierra Club’s Seal Society initially reported the incident, which they told NBC San Diego is unacceptable.

“That kind of behavior is not acceptable. Whether it’s a person being punched or an animal. (The sea lions) are a protected species. That was an assault, and they should be prosecuted for it,” Robyn Davidoff, chair of the Sierra Club Seal Society, said.

Tourists in the area expressed their horror at the terrible attacks.

“(I say) press charges immediately to the full extent of the law because they’re innocent creatures,” Julissa Garza, visiting from Texas, told NBC San Diego.

“They’ve been warned. They’ve seen the signs, and if they still do that, I think there definitely should be consequences,” Heidi Woo, from Carmel Valley, said of tourists ignoring warning signs.

Sea lions are approaching their mating season and are in the middle of their summer pupping timeframe, which sees newborn sea lions emerge.

Davidoff told SF Gate that human interaction with the pups may be leading to their deaths because their mothers have a hard time recognizing their scent when humans touch them. 50% of the pups born this season have died, Davidoff said. Only 10% of pups have died in the area not open to human interaction.

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