Just thought I would post a link to some articles that featured in Saturday’s Otago Daily Times (12.04.08). The first two feature Amélie Augé’s research in conjunction with the Department of Conservation regarding satellite tracking of Sealions on the Otago Peninsula.

The articles discuss the purpose of the research as well as a broader discussion on how unique the Otago Peninsula is as a breeding area for marine wildlife. They also have some pretty cool photos showing the monitoring devices being attached. The two articles can be viewed by clicking here and here.

Ongoing updates about Amélie Augés research can be viewed on our blog as they happen through the link here “Satellite tracking” or using the tab at the top of the page.

The third article is from Prester John’s “talk of the times” and has some cautionary stories from history about becoming too friendly with Sealions. All the interactions I have had with Sealions have been pretty thrilling and range from swimming with them at St Clair beach to diving with them at Aramoana. Although I have never felt threatened by them you definitely appreciate their size and power when you are in their domain. They always give the impression that they are incredibly inquisitive and not at all shy about approaching humans kind of like an aquatic Labrador.

Obviously though there is a downside to treating them like a Labrador as the link here would suggest. Unfortunately it is the Sealion that always seems to suffer in these types of encounters. So for their sake and yours they should always be treated for what they are, a wild animal and the safe viewing guidelines should be adhered to when viewing them.

Yoshiko Cowell writes;
In the last few weeks, I’ve been going out to the beaches on the Otago Peninsula visiting Sea Lions and spending time observing them. They are fascinating creatures to observe. They seem very socialable animals and like play fighting with one another. I was standing next to a crib (holiday house), busy watching a group of male Sea Lions. It sounded like a person walking up the path beside the crib but when I looked behind me, I saw a male Sea Lion just coming around the corner of the crib! I moved away slowly, he just looked at me then just flopped down to sleep. It always pays to look behind you when watching a group of Sea Lions.
The Pups
The pups were born in late December, early January and were tagged on the 12th of March. The tags help identify the pups so that scientists can record where they are, whenever they are sighted. It provides a valueable insight in the movements and life of a Sea Lion. The tags fall off eventually and hopefully by the time this happens, the Sea Lion will have had other identifiable markings such as scars.
The Satellite transmitters
I just so happened to be at the beach at the right time! I came across Amelie (a PhD student) please refer to satellite tracking page, a group of DOC officers and a Wildlife vet whom were about to put transmitters on a female Sea Lion. They allowed me to follow them which was a great and rare opportunity to see the procedure. The whole procedure went very smoothly and the transmitters were attached by glue on the back of the Sea Lion. I can’t wait to see where the Sea Lion go.

We’re developing this blog because there are strong opinions surrounding the increasing presence of the New Zealand Sea Lion on the Otago coastline. The New Zealand Sea Lion is also known as Hooker’s Sea Lion. It is our aim in this blog to explore some of the research presently being undertaken, the issues involved and general discussion regarding  the New Zealand sea lion. It is about us learning as we go on this journey of exploration and imparting this information to you. Shortly, we hope to post information regarding the research that is currently being undertaken in the Zoology and Marine Science Departments at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Please feel free to comment on what you are interested in knowing about the NZ sea lion.