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Laguna Beach police Wednesday sought the public’s help to find whoever injured 17 sea lions by pouring “a large amount” of chlorine into a salt water holding pool where the animals had been treated for ailments at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.
The incident occurred sometime between 8 p.m. on April 27 and 6 a.m. the following day, said Laguna Beach police Sgt. Tim Kleiser.
“The pool housed 17 sea lions getting ready for release later in the week,” Kleiser said, adding that “all 17 were injured with varying degrees of corneal burns” as a result of the chlorine infusion.
Seven of the sea lions continue to receive treatment from a staff veterinarian, Kleiser said.
“This is the first known animal assault ever to take place at the non-profit PMMC, which services all of coastal Orange County,” Kleiser said.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call detectives David Gensemer or Abe Ocampo at (949) 497-0377; or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s hotline number, (800) 853-1964.
— City News Service