A Californian man was arrested for a despicable act of cruelty against a sick sea lion on the beach.
Christopher Hurtado, 31, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning after the police in Ventura saw surveillance images that he heartless hit the sea lion with a stick.
The alleged attack took place along the Ventura Beach Promenade, where officers chased Hurtado on foot while trying to flee the stage, according to a press release.
Hurtado defeated the stranded mammal with a large stick several times, according to the police.
When the police held in Hurtado, they discovered that he had methamphetamine on him.
He was booked in the Ventura County Jail on $ 20,000 bail and accused of animal abuse and possession of a regulated substance, both crimes.
His first judicial date is planned for Thursday.
Since sea lions are a protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Hurtado is also confronted with possible charges by federal prosecutors.
At the time of the incident, the sea lion suffered from domoic acid poisoning, a natural toxin in algae that can be fatal to marine mammals.
Christopher Hurtado, 31, was arrested near the Ventura Beach Promenade (photo)
Hurtado is said to have defeated a sick sea lion several times (not depicted) with a large stick, said the Ventura Police Department
California State Parks Officers responded on stage to help the sea lion and also informed the American fish and nature service.
The Channel Island Marine & Wildlife Institute was also there to follow the state of the animal.
'On arrival she reacted but seemed to have clinical signs of Domoïnezorthoxicosis. Our medical team determined that the best way of acting was not to cause any further stress today, “said officials of the institute.
'She is being observed at the moment and at the moment it is comfortable. [Wednesday]We will perform a complete physical examination with diagnostic tests. '
The toxin of course leaves the body of the animal, but repeated exposure can require medical intervention.
Civil servants said they had to leave sick marine animals alone.
'It is crucial not to touch, move, feed or to harass marine mammals. Your cooperation can prevent dangerous encounters for both people and animals in the wild, “the police said.
Assistant director Greg Busch at the office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa)) said he would follow an investigation into what happened.
'It is a crime under the Navy Mammal Protection Act to deliberately bothered or injure sea deck. We are grateful for the quick response from the Ventura Police Department and look forward to working with them and California State Parks on this study, “said Busch, who leads the west coast department of the agency of the agency.
Noaa's Office of Law Enforcement will help with the research at the federal level.
