Cruel beachgoers have been spotted throwing rocks at a cornered sea lion.
Outraged locals said the six culprits appeared to be tourists from out of town.
The group is accused of abusing the sea lion as it left the sea.
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The animal settled near some rocks where the six men surrounded it and allegedly hurled rocks.
Footage shows at least one tourist tossing stones at the frightened sea lion as his pals egg him on.
The incident was spotted by several residents at Lobería Beach, near Carahue, in central Chile.
They reported it to the authorities on 14 February.
The thugs did not kill the animal, but it is unclear if it was injured by their actions.
After the video went viral on social media, local mayor, Helmuth Martínez, slammed the tourists for allegedly abusing the sea lion.
He vowed that the act “will not go unpunished”.
Mauricio Steffen, director of the National Fisheries Service, confirmed that they have filed a complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as reported by Need To Know.
He also called on the local community to take extra care when encountering wild animals on the coast.
An investigation to identify the culprits is underway.
One local said: “I hope they prosecute these criminals for animal abuse and damage to Chile’s natural heritage.”
Another added: “Lobería Beach is the best place I’ve ever visited, sea lions appear all the time and they never bother anyone. So cruel.”
Someone else remarked: “Sea lions are a plague, we used to eat them but the Pinochet dictatorship passed laws that are absurd, sea lions cause more damage than rabbits and flies.”
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