About Sea Lions

The Australian Sea Lion, known scientifically as Neophoca cinerea, is a highly communicative, sedentary sea mammal native to the Western and Southern coasts of Australia. Unlike other marine species, they don’t migrate seasonally. Instead, they remain close to their haulout and rookery (breeding) sites on offshore islands, rocky bays, and sandy beaches, with occasional movement being noted from New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. 

Known to have stocky bodies, large heads, small ears, long and tapered muzzles, and short and narrow flippers, the Australian Sea Lion has the ability to walk on all fours (unlike their seal cousins) and swim up to almost 30 kilometres per hour. Adult males and pups are dark brown in colour, with the adults having a mane-like yellow area on their neck and heads, and the pups having a pale crown, whereas the females are instead a variation of grey, silver, and tan tones with darker backs and lighter undersides. Size-wise, adult males measure between 2-2.5m in length and weigh between 250-300kg. Adult females, on the other hand, measure 1.3-1.8m in length and weigh between 61-104kg. 

 

Life Cycle

The female’s breeding cycle spans 1.5 years, giving birth after a gestation period of 12 months to a singular pup between the months of January and June. Sadly, pup mortality is quite common, and sat at 60.2% in 2019. With the females having 2-3 years in between pregnancies, the protection of newborn pups is integral to the conservation of the species. 

Over the first year, pups spend their time living alongside their mother, during which they play and join in mock battles with other pups. From then, weaning will begin to take place at around 15-18 months. 

After about 4-6 years, females will have become sexually mature, followed by males at 8-9 years. It’s estimated that the Australian Sea Lion’s lifespan can reach up to 25 years. 

 

Habitat and Lifestyle

Endemic to Australian waters, these diurnal species occupy around 50 islands off the coastline, from Houtman Abrolhos to the Pages Islands – the latter of which is close to Kangaroo Island. 

In addition to islands, they enjoy residing on isolated bays and sandy beaches in social units of about 10-15 individuals and can move from one subgroup to another depending on their needs. When hunting for food, they can reach depths of over 180 metres and remain underwater for up to 40 minutes. They can also be found on cliffs, thanks to their ability to climb – some of which have reached heights of up to 30 metres!

 

Diet and Nutrition

Australian Sea Lions are carnivorous beings, fitting into the piscivores and molluscivores subcategories. Their sagittal crest indicates that they have incredibly strong jaw muscles, which helps them to latch onto prey; octopus, blue-throated wrasses, squids, fairy penguins, cuttlefish, small sharks, stingrays, and whiting are amongst the common sealife in their diet. 

Great White Sharks and Orca Whales, more widely referred to as Killer Whales, are the Australian Sea Lions’ natural predators. 

 

Mating Habits

Their mating habits are of a polygynous form – each male having a pup with multiple females. Males will guard female social units for up to 4 weeks at a time, and engage in fights with other males to decide who is allowed to breed with the females at that time. 

 

Sea Lion Conservation

Unfortunately, the current population of Australian Sea Lions is dropping rapidly, with the last recorded number of 6500 in 2014 classifying them as an endangered species. 

An early catalyst of their population decline was due to their hunting in the 18th and 19th centuries for their skin and oil. Since then, their biggest man-made threat has been gillnets; panels of undetectable mesh that are anchored vertically in the water to trap fish. When fishermen secure them properly, they provide a firm, wall-like resistance that larger marine animals can bounce off of, however in many cases, they are loose enough to trap sea lions, causing them to drown.

Other threats to their population include chemical pollution, noise pollution, oil spills, climate change, a decline in prey and liveable habitat, and diseases brought upon by contamination of their waters. 

What’s being done about it? In 2018, their endangered status led to the WA Government establishing protection zones situated around designated breeding colonies, which prohibit the use of gillnets. Although we hope that this alone encourages their longevity, there are ways to contribute personally to Australian Sea Lion conservation, such as donating to the rescue fund at the Australian Marine Conservation Society, or the Australian Sea Lion Fund.

 

Where to See Sea Lions in WA 

Luckily for us, these curious, sociable creatures love lurking all along the Western Australian coastline. You’re likely to spot them relaxing under the sun in the Jurien Bay Marine Park, but if you’re after a closer encounter, you can take a charter service from Jurien Bay via booking one of the tours available through Australia’s Coral Coast.

Just off the coast of Shoalwater, on the other side of Perth (near Rockingham), lies Penguin Island. Here, you can take a cruise to visit the sea lions, as well as dolphins and penguins alike, with snorkelling options and kayak tours available. 

Outside of these areas, you can also experience Australian Sea Lions on the Abrolhos Islands, which you can reach via a boat tour or scenic flight from Geraldton, as well as Dongara-Port Denison, just in between Geraldton and Jurien Bay.

It’s important to remember when visiting them that although they seem like friendly creatures, they are wild animals nonetheless. To ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones, you should always follow the advice given to you on the tour by your guide.

 

The Lobster Shack Sea Lion Tour

Last, but by no means least, you can catch a glimpse of these beautiful mammals on our Sea Lion Tour here at the Lobster Shack in Cervantes!

Just over a two-hour coastal drive up from Perth, you’ll find our home away from home – our little slice of Western Australian heaven. Not only is Cervantes an incredible spot to bring the family, but it’s a place where you can escape reality and experience the magic of visiting Australian Sea Lions in their natural habitats. 

We’ll take you on a guided tour from the white sandy beaches out to the turquoise waters to see one of the world’s rarest breeds of seals. By the Cervantes islands, you’ll witness their playful nature, from their stirring inquisitiveness to their fun-loving exuberance; they’ve been known to jump and somersault for hours to entertain their visitors! And if that wasn’t enough, you can snorkel in the same seas as them for an hour before heading back to our headquarters for lunch at the Lobster Shack.

 

10 Fun Facts About Australian Sea Lions

• Australian Sea Lions are one of several species that all belong to a mother group called, Pinnipeds, which also homes walruses and seals.
• They refuse to live in the North Atlantic Ocean, despite the temperatures and available diet being compatible with them.
• A one-year-old pup is called a “yearling” and a group of sea lions is called a “raft”.
• Shallow rock pools act as nurseries for pups to learn and develop their hunting abilities, due to their safe and secure environment. 
• They pinch their nostrils together when diving to hold in oxygen before opening them again when coming up to the surface for air.
• Sometimes, they’re referred to as the “angel of the sea” due to their front flippers resembling angel wings when they swim. 
• Their rear flippers act as a rudder to direct them through the water.
• If they’re too warm, sea lions raise one of their flippers out of the water, cooling down their blood which then passes through the rest of their body.
• Females look for the largest male sea lions to mate with.
• They use their whiskers to detect movement and catch prey in dark waters.