BREAKING NEWS
Hundreds of sea lions invade popular California beach, tourists flee in panic
Latest Update: March 15, 2023, 11:45 AM PST
[Santa Barbara, California] – Chaos erupted on Saturday morning at East Beach in Santa Barbara, California, as a huge influx of hundreds of sea lions, estimated to be around 500, unexpectedly invaded the popular tourist spot, prompting widespread panic and evacuation.
Eyewitnesses describe the scene as "total chaos" and "surreal" as the marine mammals crawled out of the Pacific Ocean and onto the sun-kissed beach, sending surfers, swimmers, and sunbathers scrambling to safety.
"It was like a wave of fur and slime washing over the beach," said an eyewitness. "I’ve never seen anything like it. People were screaming, grabbing their towels and running for the shoreline."
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"It was as if they owned the place," said another eyewitness, shaken by the ordeal. "They had no intention of leaving. People were trying to shoo them off, but it was like they thought they were reclaiming their territory or something."
Santa Barbara County officials say they have deployed wildlife experts, beach officials, and local authorities to carefully monitor and contain the situation. Coast Guard teams have also been mobilized to aid in the evacuation effort.
STATEMENT FROM WILDLIFE EXPERTS
"While this is an unexpected and extraordinary event, we remind the public that sea lions are intelligent, harmless creatures that are an essential part of our coastal ecosystem," said Dr. Ellen Fales, a leading expert in marine biology from the University of California.
"We understand the concerns of those affected, and our priority is to safely and humanely relocate the sea lions to a designated area, ensuring no harm or disruption to the nearby marine wildlife."
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Hundreds of sea lions invade popular California beach – Yahoo News Canada
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