SAN DIEGO– Federal wildlife authorities are investigating after a video emerged showing a person kicking a protected sea lion on a California beach.

A spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that there is an ongoing investigation into the incident, but declined to provide additional details Sunday.

The video appears to show one person kicking the sea lion in La Jolla Cove in San Diego while at least one other person can be heard laughing in the background. The person follows the sea lion and kicks it more as it tries to get away before the video ends.

“NOAA’s Office of Fisheries Enforcement is investigating reports of a video on social media showing an interaction between an individual and a sea lion, allegedly in La Jolla Cove,” an agency spokesperson said. “In the video, the individual appears to be kicking the sea lion. This is an ongoing investigation and we are unable to provide further details at this time.”

The person in the video has not been publicly identified.

Sea lions are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration guidelines say people should stay at least 50 feet (15 meters) away from sea lions, seals and other species protected by law.

“This disgusting act of animal cruelty is unacceptable,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said in a post on X. He acknowledged the federal investigation and said he had ordered local authorities to review the footage.