Galapagos Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus wollebacki)
These amazing marine mammals are utterly fearless of people. We sometimes had to shoo them out of the way to get to and from our panga. We found sea lions throughout the Galapagos Islands. This species is endemic to the islands; that is, they are only found here.
Sea lions greet humans at South Plaza Island (above) and Gardner Bay, Hood Island (above, right).
Covered in white coral sand at Gardner Bay, a baby sea lion rests on the beach.
A visitor strides along the beach at Gardner Bay, ignoring two females and a pup.
Above and lower right: Mamas and babies bond on the beach at Gardner Bay, Hood Island.
Above: Two females get into a shouting match at Gardner Bay.
Left: A sea lion pup curiously approaches a visitor at Gardner Bay. Above: Three females in a harem bask lazily on the beach at Punta Suarez, Hood Island, while their male barks raucously from the water.
Grouchy at being woken up from a nap at the fueling station in Baltra, this sea lion lets its feelings be known.
Underwater, sea lions are just as curious about humans as humans are about sea lions. This sea lion was at Bartolome Island.
