Endangered Species of the Week: Sea Lions  

Zalophus wollebaeki 

Sea lions are sea mammals characterized by external ear flaps, long fore flippers, the ability to walk on all fours, and short, thick hair, big chest, and belly. They are marine mammals and members of the suborder Pinnipedia (which in Latin means ‘fin-footed’ or ‘winged foot’). Together with the fur seals, they constitute the Otariidae family, collectively known as eared seals. There are seven species of Sea Lion worldwide but are all put together in the same family.

They are classified as endangered by the IUCN.

 Make sure not to confuse them with seals (which shocker, they are also low in number and considered vulnerable)!

Where Are They Found? 

Sea Lions are found in all sorts of waters except the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Some species live in sub-arctic regions while others prefer warmer climates such as the Californian Sea Lion. 

Fun Facts!

• The sea lion is the most common mammal in the Galápagos. 
• Males are considerably larger than females. Males are very large and can weigh from 1,500 pounds up to 1 ton. They can measure up to 12 feet in length. Female sea lions are much smaller with a weight of 700 pounds and average about 9 feet in length. 
• Sea lions do not have very good eyesight and it is believed that they are nearsighted. There is evidence to indicate that Sea Lions can see better in the water than they can on land. 
• The males are called bulls and the females are called cows. Their offspring are called pups. 
• Sea Lions are capable of diving up to 600 feet when searching for food in the water. They can remain under the water for up to 40 minutes before they must surface for air. 
• Sea Lions are considered to be highly intelligent animals. As well as being able to learn tricks, they have also been trained to help the United States Navy with their in water needs. 

What is Threatening Them?  

The hunting of Sea Lions is a huge threat to their survival. In some areas they are hunted as a source of food. The Sea Lion has only two other predators apart from man. They are sharks, in particular the Great White Shark and also Killer Whales. The Sea Lions are much more likely to encounter these predators when they have to further out into the waters to find food. 

Sea Lions often suffer from an array of health problems associated with humans. They include pneumonia, epilepsy, and various types of cancers. Research shows that the pups are immune to such problems as long as they are fed milk from their mothers. Those that are in captivity from an early age may develop these problems in the first year and the only difference is the milk they are given. 

The future is unsure for many species of Sea Lions. Years of them being destroyed by humans has taken a toll on them. Environmental concerns continue to cause problems for them in their natural habitats. They are vulnerable to the effects of climate change on ocean currents, which impacts their fish prey abundance. They are also victims of bycatch in fisheries. 

What is Being Done? 

Here I listed conservation efforts for some of the 7 sea lion species. 

Conservation of Australian Sea Lions 

Due to the National Parks and Wildlife Act of 1972, it is illegal to harm or kill an Australian Sea Lion. Although there has been such protection in the habitat, there aren’t more than 10,000 of the species remaining in the world. There has been funding put into place to protect of the Australian Sea Lions and to learn the threats that have hunted them to death. 

Conservation of Galapagos Sea Lions 

There are approximately 50,000 Galapagos Sea Lions remaining. Although so, there has been a very heavy protection to conserve them. The islands where they live has been a very interesting tourist destiny. People offer a great place to watch these animals in their natural habitat. The safety of the Sea Lions stays a priority though. Any visitors that violate the rules can come in contact with the authorities or have to pay fines. 

Conservation of New Zealand Sea Lions 

The numbers left of the New Zealand sea lion are around 10,000 and they are probably the world’s rarest sea lion species. The New Zealand government has provided protection to New Zealand Sea Lions. There are three main management strategies currently in place to mitigate New Zealand Sea Lion, including input control, output control, and Sea Lion Exclusion Devices (SLED). For the input control, a Marine Mammal Sanctuary and Marine Reserve limits the Auckland Islands extending 22.2 km offshore where no trawling or any other form of fishing is allowed. 

Conservation of Guadalupe fur Seals 

The Guadalupe fur seal population is slowly recovering from the extinction threats. The conservation group has published the viewing guidelines to protect the fur seals. The government of Mexico has declared the Guadalupe Island as a pinniped sanctuary. National Marine Fisheries Service has classified the U.S. Guadalupe fur seal stock as a strategic stock. 

What Can You Do? 

• NOAA: Learn more about the Sea Lion’s habitat, threats, and efforts being made for conservation. 
• World Wildlife Fund: Learn more about the Indus River Dolphin, conservation efforts, and what you can do to help ensure the species’ survival. 
• The Marine Mammal Center: Get detailed information about this species and what you can do to help. 

Sources 

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sea-lions  

https://animalcorner.org/animals/sea-lion/  

http://www.animalplanet.com/wild-animals/endangered-species/sea-lions/  

https://deepoceanfacts.com/endangered-sea-lions