Sea Lions Shot to Death in Malibu

Sea Lions Shot to Death in Malibu

Officials were investigating four cases in which sea lions have been found shot off the coast of Malibu

By Jason Kandel | Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 | Updated 8:29 PM PDT

Four sea lions have been found with fatal gunshot wounds along beaches in Malibu and federal authorities have launched investigations to find the culprits.

The first case happened Aug. 1, when a male yearling was found with a bullet wound that entered its right shoulder at Pirate’s Cove near Zuma Beach, said Jonsie Ross, of the California Wildlife Center in Malibu.

Another male yearling was found Aug. 17 with a bullet wound through his cheek at Point Dume.

Two sea lions with possible .22-caliber bullet wounds were found a day apart Oct. 10 and 11 at Broad Beach and Big Rock, which is just north of Tujunga Beach, officials said.

“It’s troubling to see animals that are shot by weapons,” said David Bard, the director of the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro, which received two of the mammals.

Ross said that sea lion shootings happen every year in October when squid fishing season begins, but acknowledged she had no evidence that the shootings were caused by fishermen.

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