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New Zealand Sea Lion 14.JPG
WHAT’S KILLING THE SEA-LIONS?
New Zealand sea-lion numbers have plummeted. Is it fishing pressure, climate change, the mysterious disappearance of octopuses, or a deadly new virus?
Sea-lion pups in the Auckland Islands have lower growth rates than other sea-lion species, and their mothers’ milk is lower in solids and fats than that of other pinnipeds. This may reflect the marginal environment their mothers forage in and the difficulties of finding enough sustenance to raise a pup in the Southern Ocean. Sea-lions are great ocean travellers and pups tagged in the Auckland Islands regularly show up as adults around the New Zealand mainland, more than 450 kilometres away.
Shot on assignment for New Zealand Geographic Issue138 March – April 2016.
Photograph Richard Robinson © 2016
New Zealand sea-lion numbers have plummeted. Is it fishing pressure, climate change, the mysterious disappearance of octopuses, or a deadly new virus?
Sea-lion pups in the Auckland Islands have lower growth rates than other sea-lion species, and their mothers’ milk is lower in solids and fats than that of other pinnipeds. This may reflect the marginal environment their mothers forage in and the difficulties of finding enough sustenance to raise a pup in the Southern Ocean. Sea-lions are great ocean travellers and pups tagged in the Auckland Islands regularly show up as adults around the New Zealand mainland, more than 450 kilometres away.
Shot on assignment for New Zealand Geographic Issue138 March – April 2016.
Photograph Richard Robinson © 2016
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