Ecuador investigates Galapagos slaughter of more than 50 sea lions [View All]

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The Associated Press
3:55 PM CST, January 29, 2008


QUITO, Ecuador - Ecuadorean authorities are investigating the clubbing deaths of more than 50 Galapagos Islands sea lions found in January with their skulls cracked, a state prosecutor said Tuesday.

The killings had to be committed by humans, said Jaime Estevez, who called it the work of "the criminal mind of some people who enjoy watching these animals suffer."

Estevez said it will be hard to determine who killed the animals, including 13 pups. There is no permanent guard at the site, La Pinta island at the northern end of the archipelago 625 miles off Ecuador's Pacific coast.

There were no injuries other than strong blows to the head, ruling out the possibility that the animals were killed for their parts.

more:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-080129sealion-story,1,2403353.story