| e Galapagos Islands, holiday makers are a | | | | The Galapagos Sea Lions live in colonies consisting |
| common sight and many of the animals that | | | | of about thirty females dominated by one bull, |
| make the region their home are accustomed to | | | | and the remainder of the males live in bachelor |
| seeing people. One of the most conspicuous and | | | | colonies. There is a constant war between the |
| prevalent animals on the archipelago is the | | | | males as they vie to dominate the breeding |
| Galapagos Sea Lion. They are also arguably the | | | | colony, often culminating in a bloody battle. |
| most appealing of all the inhabitants; their cheeky | | | | Sometimes however, the dominant bull becomes |
| faces with a constant smile and their huge, black, | | | | so weary from his breeding duties and lack of |
| liquid eyes have entranced boatloads of visitors on | | | | food he simply surrenders and slinks off to join |
| Galapagos Island tours for many years. | | | | the bachelors group, conceding to the next young |
| The Galapagos Sea Lions range in size from about | | | | male! |
| 50kgs up to 400kgs for a full grown male. Males | | | | One of the main drawcards that brings so many |
| are slightly darker than the females – | | | | people on their Galapagos Islands holiday to visit |
| although it is hard to tell when they are wet | | | | the sea lion colonies is the inquisitive and endearing |
| – and they have a distinctive bump on | | | | faces of the pups. Female sea lions carry their |
| their heads. The main characteristic which | | | | pups for around eleven months. After they are |
| differentiates the sea lions from their close | | | | born it is about five months before they learn to |
| relative, the seal, is their external ear-like flaps. | | | | fish for themselves, but the mothers continue to |
| The sea lions are extremely agile in the water; | | | | suckle them sometimes well beyond twelve |
| their front flippers control them but their back | | | | months. Due to the constant breeding cycle, this |
| flippers move independently, allowing them easy | | | | can often mean that a mother is still suckling one |
| passage on land as well as acting as a rudder to | | | | pup when she gives birth to her next. |
| help them turn quickly in the water. | | | | Although numbers of the Galapagos Sea Lions are |
| Although they spend much of their time fishing | | | | now growing, they are still listed as vulnerable. In |
| and swimming, the sea lions also love sunning | | | | 1979 there were about 50,000 living on the |
| themselves on the beach and in tidal rock pools. | | | | islands, but years of El Niño cycles and |
| They are homebodies at heart and seldom | | | | human interference saw numbers dwindle to less |
| venture further than about 15km from the shore. | | | | than 16,000 in 2001. The main problems have |
| They are very approachable and quite placid; | | | | been the ‘long nets’ that |
| however care needs to be taken with the larger | | | | fishermen use, which entangle the sea lions, |
| bulls. In many locations you can swim freely | | | | together with fish hooks and outboard propellers - |
| amongst the sea lions without causing a fuss. | | | | deadly temptations for inquisitive juveniles. |
| They may show some interest but mainly just | | | | Another danger for these beautiful creatures is |
| get on with their daily business, not paying too | | | | unfortunately human waste and refuse left by |
| much heed to their human companions enjoying | | | | visitors on their Galapagos Islands holiday. By |
| their Galapagos Islands holiday! A favourite game | | | | raising awareness of these ecological issues |
| the sea lions love to play is to swim towards you | | | | however, scientists monitoring numbers on the |
| at great speed, and then veer off at the last | | | | islands, have reported a measure of marine |
| moment. Hold your nerve and it can be a | | | | condition improvement, and the population now |
| delightful experience. | | | | fluctuates between 30,000 - 50,000. |