NOAA offers $20,000 reward for man who decapitated sea lion in Pacific Grove
By Ricardo Tovar
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PACIFIC GROVE, California (KSBW) — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is searching for a man wanted for allegedly decapitating a sea lion in Pacific Grove.
A woman walking along Point Pinos Beach in Pacific Grove reported witnessing a man and his daughter mutilating the carcass of a dead seal back in June to KSBW 8.
Several months later, NOAA got involved and announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the man wanted for doing this.
The incident occured at 8:40 p.m. on July 27. NOAA says the sea lion was dead before being decapitated, and its cause of death was not determined.
“We are seeking information on the person who decapitated the animal and any other details surrounding the incident,” said NOAA.
The man was described as a white male, approximately 5’9”, bald, with a full beard, and appearing in his late 50s to early 60s. After sawing off the head, he placed it in a zip-style plastic bag and left the area in a late-model Cadillac Escalade.
“Harassing, harming, killing, or feeding sea lions is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as is collecting marine mammal protected species parts,” said NOAA.
Violations could result in $36,000 in civil court fines and a year in jail or up to $100,000 in fines if found criminally liable.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964
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