THE FROLICSOME SEA-LIONS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 15, Issue 374, 23 August 1946, Page 12

THE FROLICSOME SEA-LIONS

(Written for "The Listener’ by

J. H.

SORENSEN

UCH more dog-like, more active, intelligent, and ~ smaller in size than the elephant-seals, are the sea-lions. Thousands live on the Auckland Islands, and they are in smaller numbers on both Snares and Campbells. Sea-lions and fur-seals‘have short external ears and are capable of turning the hind limbs, or flippers as they are called, forward and walking on them. The seaelephants and sea-leopards have no external ears and the hind limbs are always trailing so that the animals progress on land with an undulating or worm-like motion. \Sea-lions are considerably more lively and, while, the elephants were only objects of derision for members of the "Cape" expeditions, the sea-lions were treated with some respect. Their agility on land was such that one had to run to escape from a threatening bull. The younger animals were rather cheeky and inclined to pester one with their attentions. They were more or less ignored, a tap on the nose with a light stick being enough to discourage their curiosity. But we had to be careful when hitting seals with sticks because the nose is a vulnerable spot and it does not take a very heavy blow to kill one. Because sea-lions spend much time ashore sleeping in dense tussock or among scrub, it was necessary in negotiatin such country to tread rather warily ta avoid suddenly confronting or even stepping on one of them. A favourite prank with men travelling in "lion" country was suddenly to grab the person in front, letting out a more or less realistic "woof" at the same time. The effect on the recipient, whose nerves were well keyed up

in anticipation of suddenly meeting a huge bull, was always enjoyed by the others. False Alarm My biggest fright occurred when I spent a night alone in a ramshackle hut at Northwest Beach on Campbell Island. The country around was alive with sealions, and the sandy beach near by, the only one on the island, had always a population of 50 or more. The door of the old hut was lying off its hinges and, partly to keep out the draught, but more to keep out an intruding sea-lion, I placed it in position and stayed it upright when I retired for the night. A terrific crash in the middle of the night woke me from an uneasy sleep and I feared the worst. Reason said "lie still" though instinct shrieked "bolt!" What seemed like minutes, but were in reality only seconds, passed and nothing further happened. Cautiously peering into a semi-darkness, fitfully lit by a pale moon which occasionally appeared in gaps in passing: cloud, I found that a change in wind direction had blown the door down and that no nocturnal monster was there. Feeling rather sheepish but very telieved I fastened the door more se- curely and returned to bed. Visit to Enderby: A visit to Enderby Island of the Aucklands Group is always entertaining. Here, in the breeding season, the beach is covered from end to end with harems, each bull having about twelve females, or sea-bears as they are called. The pups are pretty little fellows and scamper around in a very "doggy" manner. After the birth of the puppies fhe sea-bears soon return to the sea but come back at

intervals to feed their young ones. The pups in the meantime have nearly all taken to the bush which lies at the back of the beach. How the sea-bears find and recognise their own pups is rather mystifying. But they do and, almost as soon as they land from the sea, set up a "mooing" call which is answered by the sharp yelping of the pup from the bush. The pups sleep heavily and I have picked up little fellows only a week or so old without waking them. Others will be engaged in rough-and-tumble play and when approached will scamper away with the peculiar shuffling gait that seals have, They are not very frightened and, when cornered, their efforts to appear ferocious are ludicrous. There are fresh water pools at the edge of the bush on Enderby Island and in these the puppies disport. A piece of stick provides a wonderful plaything. It is seized by one and he immediately sets off across the pool chased by the others, all keen on securing it for themselves. Much good-natured ducking and diving is indulged in and one is reminded of a happy group of school-children splashing in the tepid baths. The presence of a few sedate and matronly sea-bears watching the whole performance heightens the illusion, This indulgence in play, so characteristic of the lives of young intelligent animals, must be excellent training for the days ahead when they will. have to wrest a living for themselves from an unfriendly ocean. Mock Attacks * Sea-lions are wonderful swimmers. They will follow a boat for miles, porpoising out of the water and rolling round in a manner which compels admiration. Occasionally one seems disposed to attack, but a well-placed flip of the oar will send it hurriedly away. Some of the "new-chums" at one camp in the Aucklands were once treed by an old bull. The advent of an old hand, who quickly sent the seal about his business, came as a distinct relief to those quite unaccustomed to the

habits of the frolicsome sea-lions. At this camp the hut had been built up on piles to allow plenty of ventilation beneath. The presence of the shelter thus afforded attracted many seals and, such was the disturbance beneath the rooms of tired men trying to sleep, that it had to be fenced off with barbed wire. Even then they often smashed it down and it was considered no joke to walk sleepily out of the camp, when going on coastwatching duty at dawn, and almost step on a sea-lion lying across the doorstep! Nor were the tracks from beach to camp or camp to lookout huts without their thrills. Even the site of the meteorological screens had to be fenced off. Nevertheless, in all the years the sub-antarc-tic islands were inhabited during the war years, no man was bitten. Some never conquered their distrust of sea-lions and always carried firearms in case of attack. It is doubtful, however, if there was ever any need to take such a drastic step as the destruction of an animal which, if not frolicsome, only desired to be left to sleep in peace. Potential Wealth

Such has been man’s greed for wealth that, in many parts of the world, sealions like other seals have been hunted almost to extinction. The pelt, composed of only single hairs, is not so valuable as the double coat of the fur-seal. They are, however, rather rich in the oil which is obtained from the thick layer of blubber which underlies the skin. On the islands of the Falkland Dependencies, a regular season is open for the taking of sea-lions. It has been found that if a percentage of the bachelor bull population is taken each year the herds actually do better than if left alone. No breeding females or young are taken and the islands are so worked that certain parts are spelled each season. Thus a profitable industry has been well established, an object lesson provided for those who, in the past, pursued an extermination policy in our part of the world.