California cops rescue sea lion pup after it falls 30 feet from bridge, officials say
A sea lion pup is recovering after it jumped from a pedestrian bridge over the South Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, California, police said.
The young sea lion crossed over the bridge and sat on a wall over the road for about 40 minutes on Monday night. But then it jumped from the Aliso Beach pedestrian bridge, according to Laguna Beach Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jim Cota.
Laguna Beach cops and staff from the Pacific Marine Mammal Center managed to capture the sea lion, Cota said on Twitter, sharing photos of the sea lion.
“The sea lion is alive at this time, but is under medical evaluation by PMMC staff,” he said.
The sea lion — now named “Lords-a-Leaping” — fell into brush and vines, “possibly reducing its injuries,” Laguna Beach Animal Control Officer John Thompson told The Orange County Register.
Adult male California sea lions can grow to seven feet and weigh up to 850 pounds, according to the Marine Mammal Center. Females are smaller, growing to about six feet and weighing up to 220 pounds, the organization said.
“California sea lions are known for their intelligence, playfulness, and noisy barking” along with their dog-like faces, the center said.
This story was originally published December 25, 2019 at 1:28 PM.
