Page 37 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL4

A female Galapagos sea lion and her pup on Santa Fe Island.Besides the sea birds, mammals and reptiles are also the main attractions of the Galapagos. Two species of mammals that I saw were the Galapagos sea lion and Galapagos fur sea lion.The Galapagos sea lion is the largest marine mammal found on land in the archipelago. A male or bull sea lion can weigh up to 250 kilograms and is distinguished from a female by its huge size and a conspicuous hump on the forehead, while the female has a smooth forehead. They form large communities on several islands such as Santa Fe, Española, South Plaza, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Fernandina. They seem to be friendly to humans and do not feel threatened by the inflflux of tourists who often land on the beaches near the sea lion communities.About 70 per cent of the sea lion’sdiet is composed of sardines. A sea lion may dive to a depth of 30 to 60 metres to feed during the day.The sea lions mate in the water, and the female gives birth on land. A newborn sea lion pup is preyed on by frigatebirds, gulls and hawks. Mother and pup recognize one another by the cry and the smell. A pup suckles its mother for one to two years then is left on its own. The lifespan of sea lions in the wild is 18 to 20 years. The Galapagos sea lion is classified by the International Union on Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as an endangered species.Sea lions differ from seals in the following respects:- Sea lions have external ears; seals do not.- Sea lions have strong front flippers; seals do not.- SealionscanstandandwalkonElite+ 35