Sea Lions
Facts
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EN
Status
Endangered
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Scientific Name
Zalophus wollebaeki
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Weight
around 400 pounds
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Length
6 feet long
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Habitats
Oceans
Sea lions haul out in large colonies on rocks and sandy shores on the Islands. They move into the water to feed and cool off as needed.
- Places
- Habitats
A sea lion pup that's ready to play

Why They Matter
Threats
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Extinction Risk Endangered
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EX
Extinct
No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died
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EW
Extinct in the Wild
Known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population
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CR
Critically Endangered
Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the Wild
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EN
Endangered
Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild
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VU
Vulnerable
Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild
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NT
Near Threatened
Likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future
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LC
Least Concern
Does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened
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EX

Introduced species, such as dogs, carry diseases that can spread to sea lions. They are vulnerable to the effects of climate change on ocean currents, which impacts their fish prey abundance. They are also victims of bycatch in fisheries.
What WWF Is Doing

Sea lions often rest aboard fishing boats, sometimes causing the boats to sink. Fishermen try to prevent them from coming aboard by putting up barbwire as a barrier, but this causes severe injuries to the sea lions. WWF helped support a project on San Cristóbal Island that built and installed two floating bases for sea lions to rest on and a “primary care nursery” for sea lions and other species. Environmental education and communication awareness sessions were offered about the importance of sea lions and the problems with their interaction with the local community. Currently, sea lions are using the floating bases more often and we expect less sea lion injuries and fewer troubles for the boat owners on the island.
Related Species
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Sea Turtle
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Vaquita
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Whale Shark
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Dugong
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Humphead Wrasse
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Pacific Salmon
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Dolphins and Porpoises
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Whale
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Seals
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Marine Iguana
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Tuna
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Bluefin Tuna
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Sei Whale
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Yellowfin Tuna
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Hawksbill Turtle
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Skipjack Tuna
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Great White Shark
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Loggerhead Turtle
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Leatherback Turtle
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Green Turtle
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Olive Ridley Turtle
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Albacore Tuna
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Bigeye Tuna
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North Atlantic Right Whale
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Blue Whale
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Fin Whale
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Bowhead Whale
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Gray Whale
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Hector's Dolphin
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Galápagos Penguin
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Shark
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Polar Bear
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Narwhal
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Beluga
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Giant Tortoise