Remember that April chlorine “attack” on 17 sea lions who were being nursed back to health at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach? Turns out it was not an attack at all but the result of a mistake by an employee, according to police.
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Chlorine Attack on Sea Lions at Marine Mammal Center Spurs $2,500 Reward from PETA, Too
The Laguna Beach Police Department initially investigated the April 27 incident as being criminally motivated by someone who presumably poured chlorine into a pool containing the sea lions.
Subsequent investigation revealed that a marine center employee with access to the machines operating the pool's filtration system unwittingly caused the accident, according to Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Tim Kleiser.
All sea lions that were in the pool have since recovered from their injuries and been released back into the ocean, Kleiser said.
Pacific Marine Mammal Center officials say they are examining the complete police report, take the incident “very seriously” and remain committed to “rescuing, rehabilitating
and releasing marine mammals.”
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