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SAUSALITO, California (AP) — On February 9, a 321-pound male sea lion aka Chippy, was rescued by California Highway Patrol officers as it flopped along a road in central California near Los Banos.

According to center spokeswoman Cynthia Schramm, Surgery was performed at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, to remove a bullet in the skull. The wound in the back of the animal’s skull was no more than 3 days old when he was rescued.

Officials said, it is not known how the animal was wounded or how it managed to get so far inland. It may have been disoriented because of the wound and could have swum up the San Joaquin River from the ocean.

The sea lion was released at the Point Reyes National Seashore and soon after was snapped by a juvenile Great White shark. Beach Fire Chief Kenny Stevens said the attack was witnessed by 10 to 15 nearby surfers. The surfers reported seeing a 12- to 15-inch dorsal fin during the attack.

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