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Astonishing moment man positions young boy dangerously close to a wild sea lion for a photo on rocky outcrop in San Diego before grabbing him back when the creature makes a move
A man has been accused of putting a young child in danger after he was recorded positioning a small boy alarmingly close to a sea lion for a photo before the animal at La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California.
The video, which was captured by @salissav on Instagram back in April, shows an unnamed man bringing a small child close to the marine mammal, who is perched on a rocky outcrop.
At one point, he puts the child on the rock close to the sea lion, before the animal makes a noise and moves closer towards the small boy, while the man continues snapping photos on his phone.
The relation between the man and the child is not known.
The Instagram user who shared the video condoned the man's behaviour, saying: 'This was only the biggest idiot. Hundreds of people were violating the minimum 50 yard distance required. Even after the sea lion made an aggressive move towards his child, he continued trying to get more photos. And I wasn’t kidding. As soon as he departed, another guy showed up for his own selfie. It’s frustrating how no one gets in trouble for these clear violations'.
An unnamed man was filmed leading a young boy dangerously close to a sea lion in San Diego, California in order to position him for a photo
People were quick to share their thoughts on the video, expressing how they felt the man was not only endangering the child, but also disrespecting wildlife.
One Instagram user said: 'People kill me with this stuff. These are wild animals!!', while another commented: 'Leave the sea lion alone!'.
Another social media user said: 'It's all fun and games until someone gets bit with their razor sharp fishing teeth.'
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, taking selfies with seals or sea lions from close distances is harmful.
'Close encounters with people can be harmful and continued disturbances may cause stress, including causing mothers to abandon their pups', it says.
It also advises that anyone viewing the sea mammals on land must make the animals must keep noise down and stay at least 50 yards away - about half a football field.
The man, who is seen carrying the young boy in his arms, was seen getting closer and closer to the sea animal, despite it being hear making a noise
The man perches the child on the rocks the sea animal is resting on, and continues snapping photos. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it is illegal to get close to seals or sea lions
Last summer, reports emerged of sea lions causing chaos on California beaches, with the aquatic animals being said to have bitten surfers, sunbathers and charging at dogs. Beachgoers were advised to stay at least 10 feet away for their own safety.
A video taken in La Jolla Cove showed one incident in which a sea lion was seen racing out of the water and storming the packed beach where visitors backed away in fear.
Experts believed that poisonous algal blooms on the west coast had been causing severe neurological problems among wildlife.
Dr Alissa Deming, of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, had warned that being bitten by a sea lion is 'almost the equivalent of being bit by a bear'.
Also last July, a sea lion possibly sick from toxic red algae attacked a 14-year-old boy in the water off the coast of San Diego's Del Mar area.