The National Marine Fisheries Service is offering a $20,000 reward for information about a man seen beheading a dead California sea lion back in late July.
According to NOAA Fisheries, a witness observed a man using a jagged hunting knife on the sea lion’s head at Monterey Beach around 8:40 PM on July 27.
After several months without any updates, it’s not clear why the agency decided to publicize this reward now.
NOAA has released a photo of the suspect, described as a middle-aged white man with a gray beard, wearing camouflage cargo shorts and standing around 5 feet 9 inches tall.
Reportedly, he was last seen leaving the scene in a late model white Cadillac Escalade, carrying the severed head in a plastic bag.
The agency confirmed that the sea lion was already deceased when the head was removed, but the cause of death remains unknown.
This is the second effort by NOAA to attract tips regarding such incidents. In March, witnesses noted a different man in his 30s removing a sea lion’s head in a local park in Bodega Bay. He placed the head in a clear plastic bag and fled on an e-bike.
That case also had a $20,000 reward attached, but it’s unclear if the suspect was ever apprehended.
According to NOAA, rewards are only issued for tips that lead to substantial outcomes, such as arrests or civil penalties.
Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, harming sea lions is strictly forbidden. This law encompasses a wide range of interactions, from killing to feeding.
While certain sea lion species are at risk, California sea lions are not, though historically, they have been hunted for various body parts.
Interestingly, even though pinnipeds appear endearing, their behavior has changed as tourists have increasingly encroached on their habitats.
For instance, in August, a nine-year-old girl was bitten at a surf camp after her group ventured too close to a sea lion. The animal bit her leg and pulled her underwater before instructors could intervene.
Additionally, in April, a normally docile sea lion colony off the California coast turned aggressive after being exposed to toxic algae, attacking multiple surfers, including some who had been visiting the area for years.
