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Seal Or Sea Lion Pup Stolen From Southern California Beach

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) -- Los Angeles police say four people snatched either a seal or sea lion pup from a beach near the city's international airport early Sunday.

Officer Rosario Herrera says witnesses told responding officers that the group wrapped the animal in a blanket and took off in a car.

The incident happened around 3:20 a.m. at Dockweiler State Beach.

While one pup was taken, another managed to escape.

The head of a local animal rescue group says that lucky pup is a sea lion, probably 10 months old and weighing about 25 pounds.

Peter Wallerstein, president of Marine Animal Rescue, warns that while sea lions may be cute, they are wild animals with strong bites.

Meanwhile, the number of sick and stranded sea lions has been spiking up and down California's coast.

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