Angry sea lions chase tourists out of San Diego’s famous cove as two animals compete for territory

A pair of angry sea lions were spotted chasing tourists out of a popular San Diego cove as the two marine mammals fought over territory.

Sea lions were captured on video running through a crowd of beachgoers at La Jolla Cove over the weekend, as a growing sea lion population has taken over the busy vacation spot in recent months.

Although the mammals appeared to be chasing people on the beach, experts say they were actually chasing each other.

Eric Otjen, vice president of zoological operations for SeaWorld San Diego, said KTV Television The male sea lions were fighting over territory.

“The perception is that the sea lion is chasing people, and that’s not the case at all,” Otjen said.

The bizarre moment shows a chaotic scene of people fleeing from sea lions that jump onto the sand, one after another.

A smaller sea lion moves slightly ahead of a larger sea lion, pushing his way through crowds of fearful people.

These mammals are known to breed off the coast of California from late June to early August. Just three to four weeks after giving birth, female sea lions are ready to mate again, according to NOAA Fisheries.

Otjen said that because there are so many of them at once, the animals create their own territories.

‘And they all have territories. And some don’t. So the smallest guy running through the crowd is the one just looking for a place to breed.

“And the larger male you see arriving at the end of the video is the one whose territory he was trying to take over,” he said.

Robyn Davidoff of the Sierra Club Seal Society told the outlet that the large number of sea lions creates quite a spectacle on beaches during the summer.

“I was there on Saturday. Four different tour buses stopped at different times and dropped off more than 50 people, who then got off, took photos with the sea lions and, after 20 minutes, left,” he said, adding that spectators should “keep their distance.”

There are federal guidelines that advise people to stay 50 yards away from sea lions.

If someone harasses or touches a sea lion in the state of California, they risk being investigated by NOAA officials for violating regulations, according to NOAA Fisheries.

“Let them do their thing. That way the sea lions don’t feel trapped by a group of people and people don’t have to worry about them getting spooked trying to get out of the way,” Otjen said.

Neighbors took matters into their own hands and held a public meeting at the La Jolla Library on Monday to discuss the growing problem.

A nonprofit organization, the La Jolla Beach and Parks Association, discussed possible solutions on how to decrease scary situations between humans and mammals.

Members engaged in a passionate debate about sea lions, with some vowing to protect them while others complained about their encroachment.

“I think we need some marine experts to get involved here to understand what a proper ecological balance is,” said one concerned resident. Fox News.

Meanwhile, another person said: “We are trying to remove nature and add humans. Do you think that will bring back the natural diversity of the area?”

Council members sent a letter to Council President Jo LaCava, who oversees La Jolla, expressing their support for continuing to allow humans to access the cove.

Earlier this month, beachgoers at La Jolla Cove were left screaming and crying after a protective sea lion attacked them.

Before attacking the bathers, the marine mammal was swimming in the area with its young, as Lauren Bertrand captured the terrifying moment.

The sea lion almost came face to face with a swimmer before swimming away, leaving the humans unharmed.

The marine mammal rushed into the water and frightened a child who fell in.

She and another young woman who was near the sea lion fled the scene while a group of bathers simply watched the animal move away.