Sea lion pup rescued on highway quarter mile from ocean

Authorities in northern California have rescued a sea lion pup that waddled about a quarter of a mile from the ocean.

A sleepy sea lion pup in California. Image by Larry Johnson / CC BY 2.0

Mendocino County sheriff’s deputies patrolling a highway just south of Fort Bragg spotted a sea lion pup, weighing about 20lb with a tag on its front flipper, moving slowly in dense fog. The animal was friendly with the deputies, rubbing against their legs for attention.

Officials identified the pup from its tag as having been released from an animal rehabilitation centre in southern California. It then climbed into the back of a patrol car, and deputies drove it back to the ocean.

(Press Association)