New Zealand Sea Lions, also known as Hooker Sea Lions, are thought to be the worlds rarest Sea Lion species. Because of this New Zealand Sea Lions are Nationally Vulnerable.
Habitat
New Zealand Sea Lions live primarily around New Zealand's subarctic islands but a few Sea Lion colonies have been found around Stewart island and the bottom of the South Island. Description Adult males are between 2.4 - 3.5m long and weigh 300 - 450kg. They are brown-black with manes that reach their shoulders. Adult female Sea Lions are between 1.8 - 2m long and weigh 90 - 165kg. Female Sea Lions are mostly creamy grey with a darker colour around their flippers. Pups are between 70 - 100cm long and weigh 7 - 10kg. They are dark brown with a pale patch on their head. |
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Diet
Sea Lions feed on a variety of things including Fish, Penguins and Fur Seal Pups. They also enjoy eating Octopus, Squid, Crustaceans and Seabirds.
Threats
The number one threat for Sea Lions is fishing, specifically with trawl nets. The Sea Lions get caught in the nets and cannot come up to breathe. Trawl nets also target Octopus and Squid, the Sea Lions main food, which means there is not enough for the Sea Lions.
Another threat to Sea Lions is the Klebsiella disease that targets the pups and can lead to death.
How to Help
Fishing needs to be limited around the habitat of the Sea Lions. This means not fishing during breeding season or times where there are lots of Sea Lions around.
People, dogs and anything that could worry Sea Lions need to stay away from them if they are on the beach to prevent them getting Klebsiella disease and so they don't stop breeding, run away from their pups, attack or do anything else that could disrupt their life.
References
DOC - https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/new-zealand-sea-lion/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/new-zealand-sea-lion/species/biology/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/new-zealand-sea-lion/threats/
Endangered Species Foundation - https://www.endangeredspecies.org.nz/store/doc/NZ%20sea%20lion%20Endangered%20species%20factsheet.pdf
Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_sea_lion
WWF - https://www.wwf.org.nz/what_we_do/species/sealions2/
IUCN Red List - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/17026/1306343
Sea Lions feed on a variety of things including Fish, Penguins and Fur Seal Pups. They also enjoy eating Octopus, Squid, Crustaceans and Seabirds.
Threats
The number one threat for Sea Lions is fishing, specifically with trawl nets. The Sea Lions get caught in the nets and cannot come up to breathe. Trawl nets also target Octopus and Squid, the Sea Lions main food, which means there is not enough for the Sea Lions.
Another threat to Sea Lions is the Klebsiella disease that targets the pups and can lead to death.
How to Help
Fishing needs to be limited around the habitat of the Sea Lions. This means not fishing during breeding season or times where there are lots of Sea Lions around.
People, dogs and anything that could worry Sea Lions need to stay away from them if they are on the beach to prevent them getting Klebsiella disease and so they don't stop breeding, run away from their pups, attack or do anything else that could disrupt their life.
References
DOC - https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/new-zealand-sea-lion/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/new-zealand-sea-lion/species/biology/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/new-zealand-sea-lion/threats/
Endangered Species Foundation - https://www.endangeredspecies.org.nz/store/doc/NZ%20sea%20lion%20Endangered%20species%20factsheet.pdf
Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_sea_lion
WWF - https://www.wwf.org.nz/what_we_do/species/sealions2/
IUCN Red List - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/17026/1306343