The increasing number of sea lions in Dunedin, New Zealand is causing problems as their mating season overlaps with the city’s peak summer season.
During Dunedin’s sea lion “silly season” from mid-December to mid-January, two sea lions were born on a golf course and one was seen swimming alongside competitors in a surfing competition. There have also been sightings of sea lions crossing roads.
During the holiday season, Jim Fyfe, who works as a biodiversity ranger for the department of conservation, is busy guiding and directing animals that are known for their charm, intelligence, and inquisitiveness. These animals are capable of venturing several kilometers away from their natural habitat and can often be found roaming through gardens and on roads.
Fyfe stated that they are not trying to create a disturbance. However, there are instances when they do. For example, this month, he received a report from a golfer about a mother and her pup causing a delay on the fairway at Chisholm Links golf course.
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“I stated that I would come down immediately, but if you give them five minutes, they will be out of your way,” he explained, also apologizing for any inconvenience caused.
He stated that the convergence of sea lion mating season and people’s vacation time is causing complete chaos.
The yearly mating period is a key factor in the efforts to preserve one of the most endangered sea lion species in the world. This has raised inquiries about how these animals can thrive in urban environments that are not accustomed to their presence.
In 1993, 100 years after being forced onto subantarctic islands due to hunting on the mainland, a New Zealand sea lion surprisingly returned to Dunedin to give birth. Now, 30 years later, 34 female sea lions who are descendants of the first one have taken over the city’s sandy beaches this month as they seek privacy to give birth, according to Fyfe.
In previous years, the city’s saltwater pools have been a popular spot for sea lions to play, causing disruptions to a football game, theft of shoes, and interruption of picnics. Fyfe stated that the 135,000 residents of Dunedin are learning to adjust.
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Fyfe mentioned that sea lions are able to market themselves to a certain degree and often captivate people’s hearts. He also noted that these animals have a brain size comparable to that of a 10-year-old child and possess superior spatial memory compared to humans.
Once individuals come to the understanding that they are not inherently hostile or dangerous, they become more at ease around them. However, this can also lead to a dilemma of acknowledging that these creatures are still wild animals.
Some actions taken to prepare for the breeding season include putting up signs on roads to remind drivers to be careful, having conservation rangers present during Christmas, asking the city council to require dogs to be kept on leashes in certain areas of Dunedin, and enlisting community members who are passionate about sea lions to monitor their activities in their own neighborhoods.
Last year, the Dunedin city council shut down a heavily traveled road for a month in order to provide access to the beach for a mother sea lion and her baby. However, as the sea lion population continues to increase, traffic poses a significant danger to these animals. Just last month, a four-year-old male sea lion was fatally struck by a vehicle.
According to Fyfe, there has been an increase in the number of sea lions crossing roads as male sea lions are staying on New Zealand’s mainland for breeding season instead of going back to the subantarctic Auckland Islands. This is causing problems as they are chasing smaller females inland.
The reappearance of sea lions on the South Island of New Zealand coincides with the significant decrease of the breeding colony on the Auckland Islands, estimated to have 10,000-12,000 individuals.
According to Fyfe, the animals’ excitement for Dunedin is a reason to be hopeful. However, the Otago Peninsula, where Dunedin is situated, is not yet officially classified as a breeding colony and this may take another ten years. To meet the criteria, a location must document the birth of at least 35 offspring for five years in a row. Currently, only 11 pups have been born in Dunedin this summer, with an estimated 25 expected.
Fyfe mentioned that there is currently a discussion taking place in New Zealand among individuals living on the coast regarding the impact of climate change and rising sea levels on our coastal infrastructure.
Additionally, it is important to consider the needs of sea lions in terms of their habitat, as this presents a valuable opportunity to accommodate them.
Source: theguardian.com
