The final element of today's Nature Tour was to visit the appropriately named Seal Bay to visit a breeding colony of South Australian Sea Lions. With a population estimated at 14,730 animals, the Wildlife Conservation Act of Western Australia (1950) has listed them as "in need of special protection". Their conservation status is listed as endangered.
This species of Sea Lion is specifically known for their abnormal breeding cycles, which vary between a 5-month breeding cycle and a 17–18-month aseasonal, breeding cycle, compared to other Sea Lions, which fit into a 12-month reproductive cycle.
Most breeding colonies exist on offshore islands, with the exception of Point Labatt in South Australia, Baxter Cliffs (west of Twilight Cove) in Western Australia, and the Bunda Cliffs, Great Australian Bight, which straddles the border between the two states. About 42% of the total known population is found within the three largest colonies east of Port Lincoln; Seal Bay (on Kangaroo Island's south coast), The Pages Islands, and Dangerous Reef (in Spencer Gulf).
Sea LIons use their flippers to propel themselves in water and walk on land. Australian sea lions share distinct features with other sea lions, including short fur, short flippers, and a bulky body.
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It was a perfect afternoon to observe these Sea Lions hauled up on the beach to sleep after a day foraging for food at sea. It was bright, sunny and windy which had us all grinding our teeth on the fine sand that stung our faces and in my case caused some redness. A slathering of After Sun Moisturiser prevented soreness.
The breeding season is about to begin in three weeks time so dominant males are 'rounding up' their females and protecting their harems from sneaky male intruders. We saw a number of 'snarly face offs' whilst the younger, not yet mature males, feeling that 'something was about to happen but not quite knowing what', jostled each other in groups in the shallow waves of the incoming tide. Others just lay on their backs and as a wave washed in quickly turned over and dived through the surf.
I hope the photos do credit to this description of a wonderful time watching these amazing animals in the wild.
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