BOSTON — Two sea lions in California appeared to charge at beachgoers in a wild encounter that was captured on camera.
The sea lions in San Diego apparently were dozing when something startled them, causing them to dive through dense crowds of people. A post on TikTok caused video of the incident to become popular later.
According to Mairim Martinez, the supervisor of the marine mammals program at the Mystic Aquarium, it is sea lion breeding season in California, which may be the cause of some of the animals’ behavior.
Male sea lions are typically looking to breed again after their June births, according to the woman, and they may become aggressive.
As with any animal, if a big male feels like his territory is being infringed upon in any way, Martinez said, “you’re going to see him protecting his territory, protecting his harem of females.”
The sea lions were apparently sleeping when a woman on the beach got a little too close, according to the person who took the video and uploaded it.
Thousands of people have commented online since the video went viral that they were “Team Sea Lion” and that they understood why the animals reacted the way they did.
Since the video went viral, a theory that the animals might have been merely trying to have fun has also surfaced.
It raises the question of whether they were chasing the visitors or chasing each other in a playful manner. Martnez enquired. You know, if you go back and watch the video, I think that’s very likely.
Sea lions can weigh up to 1,000 pounds, so beachgoers are advised to avoid approaching them whenever possible.
