Onlookers in Richmond, British Columbia, were shocked as a sea lion jumped from the water and dragged a girl from a wharf this weekend.
Footage shows the sea lion lunging out of the water and grabbing the girl after the group sits down at the side of the wharf.
A man in quickly jumps into the water to rescue her as people on the wharf help pull her out.
The vision was shot by local university student, Michael Fujiwara, who told CBC News the family was feeding the sea lion bread.
The seal lunges and pulls the young girl into the water. Source: Michael Fujiwara
He said they left immediately after the attack, but it didn't look like anyone had been injured.
"They were pretty shaken up," he said.
Mr Fujiwara said he comes to the wharf regularly and has never seen a sea lion behave like this one did.
Marine mammal expert from the University of British Columbia, Andrew Trites, told CBC the group should not have been feeding the sea lion and that people should keep their distance from wild animals.
"My first reaction to the video is just how stupid some people can be to not treat wildlife with proper respect," Mr Trites said.
He said the animal should not be held accountable for what happened.
"This was a male California sea lion, they are huge animals, they are not circus performers, they're not trained to be next to people."
Mr Trites said the sea lion most likely mistook the girl's dress for food.
Watch the moment the girl was suddenly attacked:
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