Beaches Aren’t Always Safe
When most people think of the beach, they think of sitting on the warm sand and paddling in the sea. However, not all beach trips are idyllic.
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In some cases, a trip to the beach can result in disastrous consequences. One man visiting a beach in North Carolina thought he had been attacked by a shark, only to find out that an unknown sea animal had attacked him.
Not All Is as It Seems
Videos have recently gone viral, showing sea lions on La Jolla beach in San Diego charging toward people. However, some have argued that not all is as it seems.
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Experts have said that sea lions aren’t actually trying to attack people. Reportedly, they are in season, so when they’re seemingly charging toward people, they are actually trying to find a place to breed.
Not All Sea Lions Have Territories
All animals are known for being quite territorial about where they live. If you have a dog, your dog likely barks whenever someone new comes into the territory as they worry the person is a threat.
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Some of the sea lions on La Jolla Beach have territories, whereas others don’t. One of the sea lions in the video is thought to be trying to use the other one’s territory to breed, which is why it appeared they were charging at people but were actually charging at each other.
Sea Lions Are a Main Attraction of La Jolla Beach
Sea lions are one of the main reasons people decide to spend the day at La Jolla Beach. However, if this behavior continues, the main attraction could soon be driving people away.
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Some people go to the beach to enjoy a day out, whereas others go just to look at the sea lions, take a few pictures and then leave to go elsewhere.
Tourist and Breeding Season Are at the Same Time
The issue is that tourist and breeding season at La Jolla Beach occur at the same time. This means that while the sea lions are desperate to breed, tourists are flocking to the beach and getting in their way.
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This can lead to confusion as the tourists think the sea lions are charging at them, but they’re just trying to breed. As there are many tourists, more people feel the sea lions are charging at them when they’re not.
The Push to Close a Staircase
Activists unhappy with the sea lions’ situation are pushing for a staircase to be closed, as this provides access to the area where the sea lions and pups are frequently gathered.
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However, the staircase has yet to be closed, so whether anything happens to stop these supposed attacks from happening remains to be seen.
Unusual Sea Creatures Found at the Beach
The sea covers much of the Earth, and much of it is currently unexplored. This means that on the odd occasion, a random sea creature can turn up at the beach that has never been seen before.
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One person was surfing in the sea on a Santa Cruz beach and came across an unusual sea creature he had never seen before. Due to its size, it was initially thought to be a type of shark. However, it later turned out to be a mola mola sunfish.
Some Animals Wash up on the Beach
Not all animals that are found on the beach are still alive. There was an incident at a beach in South Africa where a great white shark had washed up on the shore after being killed by another animal.
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As great white sharks are relatively large animals, it was unknown what killed it. It turned out to be an orca that had bitten into the shark’s shoulder to get out its liver, something that orcas are known to eat.
A Meeting Has Been Held
While no decisions have been made, a meeting was held at the La Jolla public library. It was open to the public, and people could share their concerns and discuss what could be done to solve the issue.
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The La Jolla Parks and Beaches Association, a nonprofit that advises the San Diego council on park-related issues, held this meeting.
Division Over What to Do
Despite many people being fearful of what the sea lions could do, San Diego locals are divided over what needs to be done to protect people or whether anything needs to be done at all.
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La Jolla Beach is a historical beach, and some argue that it needs to be protected from sea lions. However, students and activists made the point in the meeting that the sea lions should be left alone, and if people are unhappy with their behavior, they shouldn’t go to the cove.
La Jolla Beach Has Been Closed Before
This isn’t the first time there has been debate over whether to close La Jolla beach. Back in 2023, people were getting too close to the sea lions when trying to take selfies with them. As a result, the San Diego City Council decided to close the beach.
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It’s unknown whether the same thing will happen due to the supposed attacks. Regardless of what happens, most people involved are committed to protecting both humans and sea lions so that neither comes to harm.