Pupils of Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach, a San Diego suburb, had a new classmate arrive unexpectedly Wednesday earlier this month.
According to a news item dated April 10, that was the day a baby sea lion walked off the beach and into town, finally arriving at the high school. The animal had to travel five blocks to get to the campus.
Once school staff members spotted the animal, they called the Sheriff’s Department to let law enforcement personnel know they had an unusual student on the grounds. The deputies arrived first, followed shortly afterward by Department of Animal Control officers, as well as personnel from SeaWorld. The SeaWorld and animal control personnel were there to monitor the baby and make sure it was unharmed.
Authorities released a statement to the media on Friday, saying they had “detained” the little animal in the back of the patrol car without incident. The statement went on to explain that when officers attempted to question the pup about his activities, “he clammed-up and requested his lawyer..."
The little animal is now being cared for by SeaWorld experts, who not that there have been a record number of sea lion pups stranded on California beaches this year.
School officials might consider working with brochure printers to create a booklet about sea lions for use in classes, and to raise awareness of the problem of stranded pups.
