I watch in awe as a group of endemic and classified ‘Endangered’ New Zealand sea lions/pakake playfight. They remind me of boxers, bouncing on their feet, dancing around their opponent. To humans, sea lion’s play appears aggressive, but it’s a give-and-take… Each bull strikes, propelling their neck forward and mouthing their opponents neck. Rarely drawing blood. It’s all practice for when they are sexually mature at age eight, and must fight for a territory, to hold a harem with multiple cows.
Photo: Sian Mair. Taken from a safe distance and zoomed in on.