Sea lions and fur seals (Otariidae), are one of the three families within the fin-footed, semi-aquatic group of marine mammals called pinnipeds. Unlike the true or earless seals (Phocidae) they are characterised by the existance of external ear flaps and hence are also known as eared seals. Like with all pinnipeds, during the course of evolution their 4 limbs have been modified into flippers, but while true seals (Phocids) have to wriggle on land using their front flipppers and abdominal muscles, sea lions are able to pull their hind flippers underneath their body and use them to ”walk on all fours” on land.

The Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) that we were able to observe on the West coast of Canada is the largest representative of the Otariid family. Males are slightly larger than females, but are at least double their weight! Their diet comprises primarily fish, but sea lions are opportunistic marine predators that will equally feed on various species of squid and octopus. Steller sea lions can be found in the cold coastal waters of the Northern Pacific ocean. They spend most of their time at sea feeding and foraging, but will haul out onto land in groups to rest, breed, raise their pups and to molt.

Luckily killing sea lions is strictly prohibited in the US and Russia, but in Japan they are still slaughtered in numbers every year, supposedly to protect fish stocks. Commercial hunting in Canada is banned, but special hunting permits can be occasionally granted to remove particular individuals that raid fish farms on a regular basis.

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