by Sara McGinnis posted in Parenting

"Killer sea lion drags girl into Steveston waters" is the title a viral Youtube video has been given. So far, over 2 million people have watched the terrifying clip that depicts a young girl being snatched from the edge of a dock and drug into the water.
The video deserves all the attention in the world, but perhaps not that particular title. Before we get into it though, watch for yourself:
The incident caught on video took place on a wharf in a Vancouver suburb. The first time the girl gets close, the sea lion comes up but backs away when she also retreats. But then, when she sits on the railing, it lunges up once again and snatches her dress in its mouth, pulling her backward into the water. A quick-acting bystander thankfully jumps in to assist the girl, and tragedy is avoided. Nonetheless, there's plenty to learn from this near-miss.
The moment those on the dock began snapping fingers, tapping, and calling to the wild animal I cringed. That cell phone sounded so eerie. Yes, the seal's eyes are enormous and we generally equate such features as being adorable, but this is no cartoon. Have we humans forgotten wildlife is not here to amuse us"
If you were to ask me, and many other commenters currently speaking up in defense of the "killer" sea lion, these particular people were asking for it.
"My first reaction to the video is just how stupid some people can be to not treat wildlife with proper respect,&...