New Zealand Sea Lions on the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, Nz. A taonga or treasured species and fully protected. They returned to Otago only in 1994.

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The NZ Sea Lion population is growing on the Otago Peninsula close to my home but are a threatened and fully protected species and generally still a rare sight. They only returned to breed on the mainland of NZ in 1994 when a female nicknamed Mum gave birth to the pup which returned herself to give birth in the area which led to the establishment of a colony. The subantarctic Auckland Islands remain the breeding stronghold though colonies are now established on the mainland and Stewart Island/ Rakiura.

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Size: 3504px × 2336px
Location: Dunedin, Otago, NZ
Photo credit: © Felix Kluge / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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