MONTEREY, California — Hundreds of California sea lions have taken over San Carlos Beach in Monterey, California, prompting local officials to close the area to people. Caution tape has been put up but crowds are still drawn to the animal spectacle, taking photos of the sea lions as they rest and play on the sand and in the water. Hundreds of sea lions lay at the San Carlos beach in Monterey. They were expected to remain on San Carlos Beach for three to four weeks, Uttal said. Marge Brigadier, a volunteer with Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary’s Bay Net program, said the sea lions were protected by the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which prohibits people from changing the behavior of the sea lions, meaning that approaching too close or forcing them to flee is a violation.

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Persons: Lisa Uttal, ” Uttal, Uttal, Marge, ” Organizations: National, Getty, Channel, Monterey, U.S, Marine Locations: MONTEREY , California —, California, San Carlos Beach, Monterey , California, Monterey, San Carlos, Tayfun, Anadolu, Ventura