The Galapagos Sea Lion is one of the most numerous marine animals inhabiting the Galapagos Islands. They are members of the eared seals or Otariidae family, so they can control their back flippers independently. This gives them more agility than seals on land. The Galapagos Sea Lions use their strong fore flippers to swim. Sea Lions as well as seals are capable of making extremely impressive deep dives of up to 200 ft for more than 20 minutes. Galapagos Sea Lions prey on sardines along with myctophids and bathylagids with small squids.
Adult male and female Galapagos differ in their appearance and size. Males are much larger, weighing up to 200 kg, while females weigh a maximum of 95 kg, although most females only weigh around 60 kg. Males also have raised foreheads and have a brown skin color, while females have a lighter tan tone.
The Galapagos Sea Lion is very similar to the California Sea Lion, some consider the Galapagos Sea Lion a subspecies of the California Sea Lion. The major differences are Galapagos Sea Lions are smaller than California Sea Lions and they have slightly different behavior and skull morphology.
Galapagos Sea Lions can be found on all of the major Galapagos Islands as well as some of the smaller islands and the Isla de La Plata, which is just off the coast of Ecuador. They have also been found on la Isla del Coco, an island about 500 km southwest of Costa Rica and Isla Gorgona in Colombia. Galapagos Sea Lions are non-migratory and unafraid of humans. They live on islands in colonies of around 30. Generally, they chose sites on gently sloping sandy and rocky beaches but colonies can also be found on steep rocky shorelines or ledges and offshore stacks. Like other Sea Lions, the Galapagos Sea Lions like locations with shade from vegetation, rocks, and cliffs with a relatively nearby pool or ocean for cooling off to avoid overheating.
The average Galapagos Sea Lion lives to about 20 years, and generally reproduces by the time they are six years old. The females usually attend to their pup for the first 4 to 7 days after they are born. Then, they begin going on foraging trips to get food that last 0.5 to 3 days in the cold, but in the warmer seasons last longer. Pups start developing swimming skills 1 or 2 weeks after birth. Some females nurse their pup at night and leave the following morning. Female Galapagos Sea Lions and their pups can recognize each other based on their calls and scents. Pups are born with dark brownish black coat, but it fades to a paler brown after 3 to 5 months.
Galapagos Sea Lions also have many predators. Sharks and Whales are predators of the Galapagos Sea Lion. However, Galapagos Sea Lions sometimes mob Galapagos sharks that approach their colony. Uncontrolled dogs have killed pups and injured adults. Between the years of 1978 and 2001, there was a 60-65% decrease in the Galapagos Sea Lion population. This decrease was due to infectious diseases, predators, and the rising climate. Since 2001, it has neither inclined nor declined. To avoid further decline, tourism on the Galapagos Islands is controlled.
Why is it important to keep the Galapagos Sea Lions safe? Why are Galapagos Sea Lions unafraid of Humans?
Why is it important to keep the Galapagos Sea Lions safe? Why are Galapagos Sea Lions unafraid of Humans?
It is important to keep the Galapagos Sea Lions safe because they are only found in two places of the world. If the sea lions become endangered, there entire species could be wiped out easily because of the already small amount. The Galapagos Sea Lions are not afraid of humans because they have barely had any experience with humans, and because the island is so scarcely populated they rarely have even seen a human, unknowing of the danger a human could inflict upon them.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to keep the Galapagos Sea Lions safe because there are very few of them left. Also, the population is already in danger because of the natural predators and it would be devastating if humans contributed to the falling numbers. The Sea Lions are not afraid of humans because they have had limited contact with them. Also, humans have not posed as a threat to the Sea Lions when they did interact with them.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to keep the Galapagos Turtles safe because they contribute the food chain and habitat of the Galapagos Islands. Without them, the balance would be messed up and they might go extinct since they are only found in two parts of the world. They are unafraid of humans because they have yet to have a negative encounter with humans since there are very few tourists and they are very well protected.
ReplyDeleteKeeping the Galapagos Sea Lions safe is of great importance, because there is a natural balance within the islands, and these sea lions play a major role in conserving this balance. The Sea Lions are also a group of animals that deserve the respect and the protection of the human population. As a rare species, without the protection the Galapagos Conservation effort provides the species could become completely extinct and we could lose an amazing and beautiful ecosystem that exists because these creatures roam the islands.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to keep the Galapagos Sea Lions safe because they are an important part of the unique wildlife known to the islands and a species that is quickly decreasing in size as the years go on. If we are not careful, the possibility of losing this unique species of Sea Lion could become very real. Galapagos Sea Lions are unafraid of humans because they have not had very much human contact. Unlike animals in other more populated areas, the Sea Lions have not known humans to be predators in any way so therefore have not needed to learn to be afraid of them. So instead of cowering away when a person walks by, they simply mind their own business and go on their merry way.
ReplyDeleteKeeping these Sea Lions safe is very important because they are such unique creatures. Losing this species would be devastating to the surrounding ecosystem. Due to their large impact on such ecosystem, the removal of the Sea lions would further affect the predators and the prey of it. As it stands right now, the natural ecosystem is pretty balanced, but if this species were to go extinct, who knows what would be the repercussions. If it isn't broken, don't change or fix it.
ReplyDelete