SAMMY THE SEA-LION

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 333, 14 January 1937, Page 3

SAMMY THE SEA-LION

DUNEDIN VISITOR.

Arrived At Christmas With His Family. _ , i Joey, the sea-lion who entertained « Dunedin until he became so tame j that he was a nuisance and was i transported to Wellington, where he j died in the zoo, has a successor — I Sammy, who has made his headquar- i tors at Harrington Point. He arrived ! there at Christmas. By now he is ; well established and a firm friend of | all. Also at the heads, but not seen so often, is Sammy’s soul mk'te, wifli a family of four. Sammy, like Joey, has an aptitude for appearing in unexpected places. He does not sleep on seats on the waterfront or enter shops, but he has taken a nap on the back seat of a motor-car. The owner, finding him ' there, decided to remov e him to I safer quarters and “took him for a ride” to a lonely-beach. The betting was who would return first —Sammy or the motor-car owner. The motorist won, bu.t Sammy was not far behind.

But for all his little peculiarities, the residents and visitors love Sammy. Although he might run at one, barking and making a lot of ! noise, he has not yet been known to attack any human being. In fact several people will put their hands or arms in the sea-lion’s mouth, so much confidence have they in him. ; One young man even wrestles with ! him and allows the animal to sprawl all over him, and to those who ! might deplor e the practice because I of the animal’s coat being dirtly, it J might be stated that it is quite j clean.

A rather striking example of his • friendship was provided last week, [ when a resident in a dinghy pulling • in toward the Harrington Point - wharf called to Sammy. Sammy ; heard the call and obeyed. Out he * went and frolicked around the ' dinghy, rubbing himself against the ’ boat’s side. Dogs in the water also prove a source of amusement to the ; sea-lion, and he can give tit for tat. J