(KRON) — A $20,000 reward is being offered for information on a grisly discovery at Doran Regional Park in Bodega Bay on Christmas Day. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is investigating after a man was reported to be seen cutting the head off of a California sea lion.
The dead sea lion, still intact, was found on Doran Beach by park staff on Dec. 25, 2024. Later that day, NOAA Fisheries said an eyewitness came forward and told law enforcement that they saw a man remove the dead mammal’s head with a black 8-inch knife and place it in a clear plastic bag before riding away on a black fat tire e-bike.
The suspect was described as a “tan-complexioned male, approximately 30–40 years old, dressed in all black,” officials said.
The reward of up to $20,000 is for information leading to a civil penalty or criminal conviction, NOAA said. Anyone with information is asked to call NOAA’s 24/7 enforcement hotline at 800-853-1964.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits the harassment, hunting, capturing or killing of marine mammals.
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