Related SeaWorld Suspends Captive Sea Lion Shows to Save Wild Pups in Peril

A baby sea lion took a wrong turn when he wandered away from the beach and headed to nearby Mar Vista High School in San Diego last week.

After school administrators called local police, they placed the lost pup in the back of a squad car to wait for animal experts from SeaWorld to care for him.

“The little guy was ‘detained’ without incident in the back of the patrol car,” The San Diego Sherriff’s Department tweeted on Friday afternoon. “While Deputy Sheriffs attempted to interview him as to his activities, he clammed up and requested his lawyer.”

While the image of the baby mammal in the back of a police car is certainly adorable, this pup’s five-block trek to the high school is indicative of a dire trend for the struggling sea lion population.

Warm waters near sea lions’ breeding grounds on the California coastline are driving away the fish the animals feed on, likely the cause of the pup’s quest inland in search of food.

As a result, thousands of starving sea lion pups have washed up on California’s shores this year, prompting SeaWorld’s San Diego location to suspend its sea lion and otter show last month so its personnel can focus on rescuing and caring for the struggling marine species. Although SeaWorld isn’t exactly known for its humane treatment of marine life, the company has rescued at least 400 sea lions so far this year.