A reward is being offered in the search for whoever shot a California sea lion that died after it was initially found alive on a beach in Orange County earlier this year.
The wounded male sea lion was discovered on Aug. 7 between lifeguard stations 22 and 23 at Bolsa Chica State Beach.
Personnel with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescued the sea lion which died from its injuries the following day, NOAA Fisheries posted in a news release Wednesday.
An examination done at the time found that the two-year-old sea lion had a fresh gunshot wound in its back.
“Law enforcement is seeking information on the person who shot the animal and any other details surrounding its shooting,” the news release stated.
The NOAA organization is also offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to a civil penalty or criminal conviction in the shooting.
“The Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits the harassment, hunting, capturing, or killing of sea lions and other marine mammals,” NOAA stated.