Rare sea lion attacks shut down cove in San Francisco Bay

Two unusual sea lion attacks in a San Francisco Bay cove have led authorities to close the popular area to swimmers as officials try to determine the reason for the aggressive behaviour.

A sea lion bit a man in the groin area yesterday as he swam in the waters off San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, park spokesman Lynn Cullivan said. It was "a very serious bite," and the man was taken to a hospital, he said.