While I was hanging out with a few good friends yesterday, the conversation briefly turned towards the mating habits of seals, so of course, today’s Wild Fact is about the Galapagos Sea Lion. Sure they are not exactly the same species as we were discussing but I this is how my mind works…scary, isn’t it? As you may have guessed, this particular Sea Lion breeds exclusively on the Galapagos Island. I swear the people that name these animals really don’t put a whole lot of thought into their job. I would have called them the “Sun-Bathing Greeters of Galapagos Island” – okay, so maybe I shouldn’t be in charge of naming animals either. What would you call these Sea Lions?
Welcome to the Island
So why did I refer to these Sea Lions as “Greeters”? Quite often the first sight you will see as you cruise up to the historic islands are the Galapagos Sea Lions playfully and gracefully swimming around the islands. As we have come to expect from the seal family, these animals are very social, playful and loud, which makes them pretty easy to spot as you dock your boat. And if they aren’t swimming and fooling around in the water they can often be seen catching some rays on the beach. Basically, these Sea Lions look like every family on a tropical vacation – parents sunbathing on the shore (with a drink in hand) while the kids are playing in the ocean.
Red Alert
When they are lazing around the beach or playing in the water, the Galapagos Sea Lion will either be hunting or mating. Let’s learn a little more about their hunting trips before we discuss their breeding behaviour. This particular Sea-Lion feeds mostly on sardines and has been known to travel 15 kilometres off shore over a course of days in order to look for their tasty snacks. During this time, our featured animal is most susceptible to predators such as killer whales and of course sharks.
A Mother’s Love
Roughly a year after conception the female will give birth to her beautiful little pup. Now, not all animals form a strong bond with their children but the Galapagos Sea Lion is not one of these animals. They have a very strong connection that forms during pregnancy and carries over into infancy as the mother cares for the pup and teaches them how to hunt and survive in a tough environment. The young are usually weaned from the mother’s milk about 11 months after birth. Long before this though, about 2-3 weeks after birth, the mother will again find a partner to mate with so she can have the joy of raising additional pups the following year. I think this behaviour helps shed some light into the meaning of life…their whole purpose is to give birth to the next generation while showering these pups with love and knowledge to ensure their success.
