Man caught on camera petting sea lion pup in La Jolla

[@PraiseOnMyLips]

What can seriously change that animals life is all the pollution us humans create. Not petting baby sea lions.

[@silla-je9od]

The dude didn't learn anything from the bison guy!!!! Don't touch the wildlife. Jeezus! 😤

[@commanderbell1965]

Surprise mother didn't attack him.

[@slockywush04]

The bird thing is false but for sea lions it’s true.

[@jimkeskey]

It doesn't look like anyone shooting the video of the sea lion on their phones "called him out". The news needs to report the facts and everyone needs to calm down. The sea lion will be fine.

[@shannondominguez9725]

Well this kind of interaction interferes with the animals natural behavior while also teaching them to not fear people which isn’t good. The only people who should interact with sea lions and seals are trained professionals such as those working at the marine mammal center who rescue injured and orphaned seals/sea lions with the goal of fattening them up and rereleasing them back into the wild. When it’s not possible and they’re deemed non releasable either bc of lack of survival skills or various injuries then staff at accredited facilities will care for them. These animals are protected under the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act which prohibits hunting and harassment (it also states you must maintain 100-150 ft away from them)which makes interactions such as this against the law. Also currently it’s the middle of breeding season so as a result it makes both males and females more aggressive which is dangerous for both people and the animals what this guy did was reckless and stupid admire them and love them from a distance it’s not that hard.

[@ryanwalsh5019]

​@@shannondominguez9725ok but why is this the end of the world? It was four quick pets, which isn't going to be remembered. If you've ever seen wild animal rescues, you'd know that you need to spend extensive time with them to get them not to fear humans. Weird that we are attacking people for such a simple thing that probably made that guy's year, yet I don't see anywhere near as much vitreal for the people that hurt seals.

[@shannondominguez9725]

@@ryanwalsh5019 Yes I have seen animal rescues and the times that human interaction increases to get the animals comfortable with people is only when they are deemed non releasable by NOAA for various reasons such as blindness and a permanent home at an accredited facility is chosen do some research and learn more about this as well as what the MMPA states.Once this happens then the work is put in to get them to feel safe with their caregivers and from there training can be started to get them to participate in their husbandry care. When an animal is I need of help or treatment certain protocols are put in place so that a team can approach them safely(they don’t just walk up and immediately touch them they either have a towel or a net placed over their heads)once they are taken to a marine mammal center contact is done in such a way that they don’t associate people with touch food etc(for example at the Alaska sea life center when assessing weather or not a seal can catch their prey,a requirement that has to be met in order for the animal to be considered for release,fish is tossed into the pool but it’s done at a distance and they can’t see where it’s coming from)I’m not going to lie I’d love to touch a sea lion but not like that I’d only do it in an interactive program with animals that enjoy it with their trainers bc not only could I run the risk of getting bitten(sea lion mouths are full of teeth that once they they eat fish those teeth turn black and have all kinds of bacteria from that diet)or have the mom get aggressive protecting her pup there’s also the chance that a mom could abandon that baby after smelling human scent thus not taking care of it. You can and will get in trouble and it’s bc of scenarios like this that this law exists these animals are beautiful but they deserve to be treated with respect/left alone I don’t know why that’s so hard to understand(yes they’re cute I get it)but give them space. Go interact with them at facilities that allow it so they can show you what goes into caring for them as well as enjoy learning from them there’s plenty of opportunities for that out there.

[@allstarpterosaur850]

This guy really went 🤓. LIKE CALM DOWN! A few rubs doesn’t hurt anybody.

[@poop464]

@@shannondominguez9725 The interaction of humans and animals is NATURAL. Are you stupid, we evolved on this Earth as well.

[@zomgie6817]

This one time I went to sleep on the beach and woke up cause a sea Lion had decided it liked my spot and was laying on top of me, like across my waist. I wanted to move but the life guards told me It was against the law to push the lion off me, so despite the fact I had this huge monster or a creature on me, despite the fact it could just tear me to shreds at any time… I had to just sit there. Most terrifying and beautiful moment of my life

[@stayfrosty2519]

The cove used to be closed off every season, so people couldn’t bother the sea lions. What changed?

[@Yourstruly4.0]

Should be against the law and fined

[@DiogenesOfCa]

Must be a Zonie.

[@aprilalvarez7073]

This is essentially a myth, but one that no doubt started to help prevent people from disturbing wildlife.

[@BenicioTamietti]

Btw you see that kid with blonde hair its me

[@dylanvinas6100]

Oh come now it’s just a pup how that an illegal????!

[@white_genocide2050]

Did you not see the video the sceant of a human on him

[@dorianwhitney1]

Maybe if you knew english and watch the video, you would have heard the answer to your stupid question.

[@dbgreene9020]

People ruin everything

[@dereklecornu2365]

I hope he gets back in the water and the Shark is About... Dip Sh#!

[@arturogarcia5996]

People there don't care

[@poolman20001]

Come on. Im not buying it at all. They always say don't mess with wild animals. But I just don't see anything wrong with it.

[@ThePixelRunner]

That's clearly the end of the world, what have he done, we're doomed.

[@dorianwhitney1]

It could be the end of that pup’s world. And it most likely was. If you don’t care about animals why are you even watching this video in the first place? You have made no point.

[@fictionrumble]

cute fantasy but dumb move

[@micheles1525]

Whether they are 'Tourons' or just ignorant, entitled jerks, you cannot do whatever the hell you want...leave baby animals alone!!! And as for the idiots swimming with the seals and sea lions? I guess they didn't get the memo...seals = sharks ... they call us Massholes where I'm from but we're smaht enough to not be jumping into Chatham Harbor to swim with Bruce

[@bobwallace4198]

Put the guy in jail and big fine !!!!!

[@allstarpterosaur850]

If you care about wild animals more than people, you’ll die alone with no friends. I used to care a lot about wild animals, always loving them more than people. However, seeing that it was resulting in me having no true friends or anyone loving me for the right reason, I gave up. Currently trying to be an artist, but due to me loving animals since I was a child, I have no potential to better myself.

[@dorianwhitney1]

@@allstarpterosaur850i pray your comment is a joke & sarcasm because ..Wtf did I just Read? 😂 first off; nobody cares. Second; it’s obvious you lost friends for many other reasons than loving animals. Ignorance is one of them. 🤡

[@ryanwalsh5019]

Oh no, its the end of the world!!! What a terrible person /s

[@ThePixelRunner]

Even worse than that failed austrian painter

[@dorianwhitney1]

I mean; maybe not terrible, but stupid & uneducated, yea. It most likely caused the end of the world for that pup. So you’re right, in a sense…

[@deadly8987]

5000 fine and arrest this man he probably not from san diego leave creature alone. They aint pets if want pet one go to sea world that why san diego has one. 😅😅😅😂😂.

[@dorianwhitney1]

Probably not from San Diego? You’re kidding, right? Why do you think it’s impossible for locals to break rules also? 😂

[@FloridaMan69.]

what a disaster