Isabela and Fernandina Islands
What an imposing and incredible specimen! This is a true beach master; a male Galápagos sea lion showing off. He looks almost as big as the guests in this picture. Even though he is not quite that huge, his weight could have easily been up to four hundred pounds. A male that size can patrol a huge territory with several females and babies, but not forever. Even the strongest male loses his energy after a while.
The life of a beach master isn’t an easy life. They have to constantly patrol their territories, they breed with the females, fight with the challenging males, and, as if that wasn’t enough, they can’t go fishing, because if they leave the area they will lose it to another male. As a result, after a few weeks they are so exhausted that a fresher male will eventually win the fight and take over his territory.
How can a sea lion survive for so long without fishing? Especially if one considers that they get their liquids from the fish they eat. The explanation is that while they are beach masters they produce metabolic water by oxidizing their own fat. What a way to lose weight and make some water all at once! So, even though this male is handsome, huge and imposing, I wouldn’t like to have his life. The life of a dominate male sea lion is just too complicated with so many lady sea lions around!
What an imposing and incredible specimen! This is a true beach master; a male Galápagos sea lion showing off. He looks almost as big as the guests in this picture. Even though he is not quite that huge, his weight could have easily been up to four hundred pounds. A male that size can patrol a huge territory with several females and babies, but not forever. Even the strongest male loses his energy after a while.
The life of a beach master isn’t an easy life. They have to constantly patrol their territories, they breed with the females, fight with the challenging males, and, as if that wasn’t enough, they can’t go fishing, because if they leave the area they will lose it to another male. As a result, after a few weeks they are so exhausted that a fresher male will eventually win the fight and take over his territory.
How can a sea lion survive for so long without fishing? Especially if one considers that they get their liquids from the fish they eat. The explanation is that while they are beach masters they produce metabolic water by oxidizing their own fat. What a way to lose weight and make some water all at once! So, even though this male is handsome, huge and imposing, I wouldn’t like to have his life. The life of a dominate male sea lion is just too complicated with so many lady sea lions around!
