Point Reyes National Seashore posted livestream footage showing two people throwing rocks at a resting northern elephant seal on Dec. 6. The Marine Mammal Center says a viewer in Japan first reported the incident; the center passed the tip to NPS and NOAA law enforcement. The animals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and anyone with information should call the NPS tip line at 888-653-0009.
Authorities Seek Two People Caught Throwing Rocks At Protected Elephant Seal At Point Reyes
Jessica Christian/The San Francisco Chronicle via GettyA male elephant seal is photographed at Ano Nuevo State Park in Pescadero, Calif. in 2022.
Authorities in California are asking the public for help identifying two people captured on a livestream throwing rocks at a resting elephant seal on National Park Service land at Point Reyes.
Point Reyes National Seashore posted a clip from the park's Chimney Rock beach livestream showing the incident, which occurred on Dec. 6 and was shared publicly by the park on Dec. 19. The video appears to show a woman throwing a rock that strikes an adult male northern elephant seal while a man nearby also hurls stones toward the animal.
Suspect Descriptions
The park described the two subjects as follows:
NPS Photo / Marine Mammal CenterFootage of the incident from Point Reyes National Seashore.
- Woman: Black hair, white baseball cap, red-and-dark jacket with blue-and-gold trim, and jeans.
- Man: Dark coat with neon-yellow accents and a neon-lined hood; appeared to be carrying a large black DSLR-style camera.
How The Incident Was Reported
The Marine Mammal Center (MMC), a nonprofit marine animal hospital, says the episode was first flagged by a viewer in Japan who was watching the Chimney Rock live camera and emailed MMC because English was not their first language. MMC forwarded the tip to Point Reyes National Seashore and to NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement, noting that the center itself does not perform law-enforcement duties.
“The footage shows deliberate throwing actions by both individuals,” Point Reyes National Seashore said in a Facebook post, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Legal Protections And Impact
The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and NPS wildlife regulations prohibit harassing, injuring, or disturbing marine mammals. MMC officials described the footage as alarming and said the incident constitutes intentional harassment of a resting marine mammal with a clear risk of injury. Such actions can result in fines and criminal penalties.
Adam Ratner, director of conservation engagement at The Marine Mammal Center, said the clip is "both alarming and extremely distressing" and emphasized that "no photograph or wildlife experience warrants this type of behavior." MMC noted that rock-throwing at marine mammals is relatively rare at their sites but that this case is a clear example of intentional harassment.
Jessica Christian/The San Francisco Chronicle via GettyA male elephant seal at Ano Nuevo State Park in Pescadero, Calif. Friday, Jan. 21, 2022.
About Point Reyes And Northern Elephant Seals
Point Reyes National Seashore protects roughly 71,000 acres of coastal habitat north of San Francisco, home to more than 1,500 species of plants and animals. Northern elephant seals are commonly observed on Point Reyes beaches from December through March.
According to the NPS, northern elephant seals are the world's second-largest seal species and are identified by their large, trunklike noses. Males can reach about 13 feet long and weigh up to 5,000 pounds; females grow to about 10 feet and weigh around 1,700 pounds.
How To Report Information
Anyone with information about the Dec. 6 incident is asked to contact the NPS tip line at 888-653-0009. Park officials continue to review the footage and work with law enforcement partners.
