A dog off leash in Point Reyes National Seashore killed a threatened Guadalupe fur seal pup, 48 km north of San Francisco. The canine was in an area of the park where dogs are prohibited due to nesting snowy plover birds, which is also threatened species. According to experts, the Guadalupe fur seal was 10 months old and it had probably sought refuge on a Point Reyes National Seashore beach in Northern California as it was weak and malnourished. Delhi: Dog Owner Kills Man For Throwing Stones at His Pet.

A park visitor who saw the incident informed the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, however, by the time wildlife experts arrive, the animal was dead. A necropsy report confirmed that the death was caused due to a deadly attack. The dog and dog owner immediately left the scene, but an investigation is underway. Dogs are not allowed in the area because of snowy plovers' nesting. In fact, walking a dog in a closed area, or walking a dog off-leash in a leash-only area, is a Class B misdemeanour with the maximum punishment a fine up to USD 5,000 or six months in jail. Rare Dog Breed Mexican Hairless Which Looks Like a Statue Shocks Netizens! (See Pictures)

In the 1800s, Guadalupe fur seals were hunted to near-extinction. According to the Marine Mammal Center, currently, the only known breeding colony is on Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California. The species which existed in the north as Point Conception in central California were hunted to extinction in California in 1825. Park spokesperson Jennifer Stock says sometimes they swim to the Channel Islands off Ventura but now they're "very rarely" seen in Point Reyes.

The population of Guadalupe seals are estimated at about 34,000 currently. They are protected by law in the United States, Mexico, and Guadalupe Island has a designated sanctuary. Stock said that if you see someone committing a national park violation like walking a dog off-leash, then one should report it to the park.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 02, 2019 05:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).