Federal wildlife authorities are investigating an incident captured in a viral video that appears to show a person kicking and harassing a protected sea lion on a city-operated beach in California, near San Diego. Multiple outlets report that the footage prompted the inquiry by U.S. federal officials after it surfaced online. The video depicts a man allegedly approaching the animal and kicking it, prompting concerns about animal cruelty and violations of protections for sea lions. The Independent and NBC News describe the sea lion as protected and note that the investigation is ongoing. The New York Post similarly reports that federal law enforcement is reviewing the social media video and that the incident appears to have occurred Wednesday night at La Jolla Cove, a beach in San Diego County. Other outlets reiterate that the investigation follows the circulation of the video and that officials are working to determine what happened, who was responsible, and whether laws were broken. At this stage, officials have not publicly confirmed details of the incident beyond the existence of the video and the fact that an investigation is underway.