A large seal was right in front of me when I traversed the coastline path in the Catlins part of Southland, NZ. There was a young tourist family (with small baby) sitting about 4 metres from it!
Not to be confused with the svelte and pointy-nosed fur seal, this creature – also known as Hooker’s sea lion – is super-sized, with the big boys topping the scales at almost half a tonne. Hunted close to extinction before being protected in 1893, they started breeding again on the mainland in the 1990s. Several dozen now reside around the Catlins Coast.
When humans come closer than 15 meters of a sea lion, the sea lions' vigilance increases because of the disturbance of humans.
Tourists don’t realise how fast these huge beasts can travel and the bite!
Three good things; 1.This big beastie got up and stretched and looked around. The tourist family moved back about 1 metre! He flopped back to complete sleep!
2. The wild path around this coast was tricky with some collapse due to waves but I was careful.
3. We thought we had a great camping spot with a view of the beach… until o huge tourist motorhome nudged in beside us … and another on the other side. We could pull the blinds up! (our blinds go up)
Great shot of this big Guy showing nice details in his fur. You are right folks need to keep at good distance away from "Wildlife". Also sounds like a great place to camp.
We had buffalo, bear and elk where I grew up so I grew up knowing their potential for danger, but tourists treated them like tame cattle, then I moved here, and stupidly thought the sea lions were slow and adorable, until I saw their wolf like teeth and how high they can jump from the waters surface to a dock on stilts. People are dumb but can be taught.
You have to be so careful around large animals like this, people are stupid & not mindful of the rules then the animal attacks & gets the blame! He looks very impressive & great to learn about these seals. I woukdnt want any neighbours close up to me....well not too close anyway!
@happypat I was scared the little boy would run up and touch the beast! Heaven forbid! Beautiful beach - white sand and blue waters but I wouldn't be swimming here!
A wonderful capture, love all the detail in his fur. Some people really don't use their brains when it comes to wildlife, we are in their world and should react with respect and reticence.
It is my guess that when people come in contact with animals in the wild that they are unfamiliar with and know very little about they aren't aware of the danger they are placing themselves in by trying to get close.
Possibly their only exposure was at a marine wildlife zoo where they watched the trainer feed them fish in a playful setting.
Just be glad that nothing bad happened to them.
@skipt07 quite right, Skip - but I'm sure there was a notice up by the entrance to the beach path about distances to keep. Of course there were a lot of foreign tourists who may not read English!
November 30th, 2018
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Possibly their only exposure was at a marine wildlife zoo where they watched the trainer feed them fish in a playful setting.
Just be glad that nothing bad happened to them.