While in the Catlins area we stopped at Surat Bay just to look around thinking we would see some beaches and cliffs. So we were happily shocked & amazed when we found a large group of sea lions on the beach. Only about 5 other people were there; we all sat on a sand dune about 50 feet or so from them. It was like watching National Geographic...as it was being filmed. These animals are huge! These two were having a bit of a fight. It's mating season so lots of fighting going on.
It was easy to tell the males from the smaller females. The males also have "manes" which is one of the reasons they are called sea lions. This group even had a baby which is at the front of the picture on the left. This group was constantly "playing" or what looked like fighting; always snapping at each other and lumbering around. They kept chasing the baby which tended to head toward us. They tell you to keep your distance from these guys since, unlike seals, they are not afraid of humans.
Another roaring session. The adults would roar at each other and the baby made a bellow like a sheep. Others would just lay down and cover themselves with sand -- that's what those two lumps are at the left side of the photo.
The baby was so cute and little. It was strange to watch how the adults treated it. It would get in the middle of a fight and get tossed and rolled around. Then it would try to get away, and the bigger ones would chase it.
We watched these guys for a long time. It was hard to believe that we could actually sit so close to them. They are really huge and powerful looking, constantly in motion fighting for the best spot on the beach or who sat where. Obviously, Pocket wouldn't come out for pictures...he was afraid, likely with good reason.
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