Presentations
Sea Lion Marine Patrol
We care about protecting the seas, and so do our South American sea lions. So they banded together to form the Sea Lion Marine Patrol!
Welcome to the Headquarters of
the Sea Lion Marine Patrol
The bravest, the proudest, and undoubtedly the most charming squad of environmental champions you will ever encounter!
Sea Lions are
fun-loving individuals,
but they get downright serious when it comes to protecting the environment.
Enjoy a free Backstage Pass
After the presentation, go down the ramp and experience an underwater view of the sea lions in their backstage pool. Enjoy the graceful, playful movements of our sea lion friends as they swim, dive, and glide through the water.
The Cast
South American Sea Lions
These charismatic marine mammals belong to the pinniped family. Although protected in many countries, they continue to be threatened by fishermen who consider them competition for dwindling fish stocks.
Common Name: South American Sea Lion / Patagonia Sea Lion
Scientific name: Otaria Byronia / Otaria Flavescens
Males: Weight 300 to 340 kg Length 2.3 to 2.8 meters
Females: Weight 140 to 150 kg Length 0.73 to 0.85 meters
Newborns: Weight 10 to 15 kg Length 0.73 to 0.85 meters
Distribution: West and East Coast of South America, from Northern Peru around the Southern tip of South America, up to Southern Brazil.
Physical Features: They are generally a shade of brown to golden with some variation in individuals. Adult bulls have a dark brown coat with a long mane of course fur surrounding their neck and chest. Females have a lighter brown to golden coat. Both males and females have lighter bellies.
Breeding Season: Mid December to mid-January Reproduction: Like other sea lions, these animals have what is called “delayed implantation”. That means that males and females come together in December and January. At that time the pregnant females give birth, and they also breed with a male. However, the egg is not implanted inside her body for another 3 months. That allows the female to begin nursing and caring for her newborn pup before she becomes pregnant again. Males and females become sexually mature between 5 to 9 years, although some animals have given birth at younger ages. Once the egg is implanted, gestation is around 9 months. Mothers nurse their young for up to 9 – 12 months.
Longevity: Animals in the wild have been documented to live 12 to 18 years on average. Animals in captivity often live longer, with some living up to 25 years.
Conservation Status: The populations of these sea lions are widely distributed throughout South America. The population is considered stable at around 300,000 individuals. These eliminate them as competition for fishermen. They are also effected by pollution, over fishing, nets and other human activities.