A 32-year-old man, Christopher Hurtado, was arrested on Ventura Beach for allegedly beating a sea lion with a stick. He faces charges of felony animal cruelty, violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and drug possession. The incident was captured on surveillance cameras. Authorities were already warning about a toxic algae outbreak affecting marine wildlife, with over 50 sea lions sick from domoic acid.
Tunisia:
Aquila, a golden eagle rescued after his wings were clipped, was released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation. The Tunisian Wildlife Association's ResQ program facilitated the rescue and release. The golden eagle is a protected species in Tunisia, threatened by hunting and habitat loss. The ResQ program relies on donations to continue its work of rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife.