US hunts man who decapitated California sea lion

The suspect was seen using a black 20cm knife to remove the sea lion’s head. PHOTO: AFP

UPDATED Mar 14, 2025, 07:10 AM

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LOS ANGELES - A bike rider who decapitated a dead sea lion over Christmas and rode off with the animal’s head in a clear plastic bag was being hunted in the US on M arch 13 .

Officials were offering US$20,000 (S$26,700) for information leading to the conviction of the man who sliced the creature’s head off on a California beach.

A notice from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) said the intact body of a dead sea lion was spotted at Doran Regional Park, about 100km north of San Francisco, on Dec 25, 2024.

But a short time later the pinniped’s corpse was horrifically mutilated.

“An eyewitness described the suspect as a tan-complexioned male, approximately 30 to 40 years old, dressed in all black and riding a black fat-tire e-bike,” Noaa said.

“The suspect was seen using a black 8 inch (20cm) knife to remove the sea lion’s head, placing it in a clear plastic bag, and riding away.”