The increasing number of sea lions in Dunedin, New Zealand is causing issues as their breeding period coincides with the city’s peak summer season.
During Dunedin’s sea lion “silly season”, which occurs from mid-December to mid-January, there have been sightings of two sea lions giving birth on a golf course and another swimming alongside competitors in a surfing competition. Additionally, there have been reports of sea lions crossing roads.
During the holiday season, Jim Fyfe, a ranger for the department of conservation, is prepared to guide “charismatic, clever and curious” animals away from gardens and roads, as they have the ability to travel several kilometers inland.
According to Fyfe, they are not looking to create any trouble. However, there are instances when they do cause disruptions: earlier this month, he was notified by a golfer that a mother and her puppy were delaying the game at Chisholm Links golf course.
“I promised to come down immediately, but if you give them five minutes, they will be out of your way,” he explained. He then apologized for any inconvenience caused.
“The convergence of sea lion mating season and vacation time for humans is utter chaos,” he remarked.
The yearly mating period is a significant achievement in conservation efforts that experts believe could potentially save one of the most endangered sea lion species in the world. It has also raised inquiries about how these animals can thrive in urban environments that are not accustomed to their presence.
In 1993, it had been 100 years since New Zealand sea lions were forced to migrate to subantarctic islands due to hunting on the mainland. In a surprising turn of events, one sea lion returned to Dunedin to give birth. Now, 30 years later, there are 34 female sea lions who are descendants of that first sea lion and they can be found “pretty much everywhere” on the city’s sandy beaches this month as they seek shelter to give birth, according to Fyfe.
In previous years, sea lions have played and swam in the saltwater pools of the city, interrupted a soccer game, taken shoes, and interrupted picnics. Fyfe stated that the citizens of Dunedin, with a population of 135,000, are adjusting to these occurrences.
Fyfe stated that sea lions are highly charismatic and people often become enamored with them. He also mentioned that these animals have a brain size comparable to that of a 10-year-old child and possess superior spatial memory compared to humans.
After individuals come to the understanding that these creatures are not actually hostile or dangerous, they tend to feel more at ease around them. However, this situation can be tricky because it also means acknowledging that they are still wild animals.
Some preparations for the breeding season include putting up signs on roads to remind drivers to be careful, assigning conservation rangers during the Christmas season, requesting that the city council enforce leash laws in certain areas of Dunedin, and enlisting the help of community members who are passionate about sea lions to watch for any incidents in their neighborhoods.
In the year 2021, the city council of Dunedin made the decision to temporarily close a well-traveled road in order to provide a safe path for a sea lion and her offspring to reach the beach. As the number of sea lions in the area increases, traffic continues to pose a significant danger to their well-being. Tragically, a 4-year-old male sea lion was recently struck and fatally injured by a vehicle.
According to Fyfe, Rangers have noticed an increase in occurrences of sea lions crossing roads. This is because male sea lions, who typically mate with smaller females during breeding season, are staying on New Zealand’s mainland instead of returning to their usual breeding grounds on the subantarctic Auckland Islands.
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.
Fyfe expressed hope for Dunedin’s potential as an attractive location for animals, but it will take approximately ten more years for the Otago Peninsula, where Dunedin is situated, to officially be considered a breeding colony. In order to meet the criteria, a location must document the birth of at least 35 offspring for five consecutive years. This season, only 11 offspring have been born in Dunedin, compared to an anticipated 25.
Fyfe stated that there is a current discussion among individuals living on the coast in New Zealand about the impact of climate change and rising sea levels on our coastal infrastructure.
We must also consider the needs of sea lions in terms of their habitat, as this presents a wonderful chance to create space for them.
Source: theguardian.com
