Show Navigation
04 New Zealand Wildlife Photography All Galleries
Add to Cart

New Zealand Sea Lion

89 images Created 1 Jan 2010

Hooker's Sea Lion (Phocarctos hookeri) is a vulnerable species, with an estimated population of about 9,000 in 2008.

New Zealand Sea Lions were once found up to the top of the North Island, but after hunting by Maori and Europeans, were almost extinct by the mid-1800s. The only breeding on the mainland is in the Otago region where it began with a single pup in the 1993/94 season and now averages 4 pups per year - almost all related to the original female.

Adult males (Whakahao) are dark grey or dark brown in colour with a mane of longer thicker hair around the neck. Females (Kaki) are much smaller and lighter in colour with no mane, similar to juvenile males.

Like other eared seals, they lift their body off the ground and are able to walk on their flippers, which means they can reach speeds of up to 20km/hr on land.

Loading ()...

  • A boisterous New Zealand sea lion pup invites play by snapping its teeth then darting away.  Playful interactions are theorized to serve a role in honing a young animal’s stress response, as well as fostering brain growth.  But the hours spent exploring the ocean come at a cost – squid trawling nets and plastic pollution increasingly threaten this endangered species.
    Hooker's Sea Lion Pup_H7C6643.jpg
  • Courtship between a pair of New Zealand Sea Lions, Karitane.
    Courtship New Zealand Sea Lion 01_H7...jpg
  • A playful Hooker's Sea Lion in the Catlins, New Zealand.
    Hooker's Sea Lion Pup_H7C5815.jpg
  • _63A5729.jpg
  • An endangered New Zealand Sea Lion playfully swims by underneath the light rays at Curio Bay, New Zealand.
    New Zealand Sea Lion and light rays_...jpg
  • After a good rest underneath the kelp, a NZ Sea Lion takes a leisurely swim in the Catlins, New Zealand.
    NZ Sea Lion 44_63A1850.jpg
  • Courtship between a pair of New Zealand Sea Lions, Karitane.
    Courtship New Zealand Sea Lion 02_H7...jpg
  • Courtship between a pair of New Zealand Sea Lions, Karitane.
    Courtship New Zealand Sea Lion 03_H7...jpg
  • A playful female New Zealand Sea Lion arches its back over the shoulder of the male bull.  Courtship displays involve plenty of underwater pursuit and rolling and play biting, which is often carried over to wrestling on shore.
    Backflip during NZ Sea Lion Courtshi...jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, out for a swim in the Catlins, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 13_6735.jpg
  • _H7C5913.jpg
  • _H7C3661.jpg
  • _H7C9364.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 27_H7C5406.jpg
  • _H7C8411.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Catlins, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 15_0584.jpg
  • _H7C3655.jpg
  • _H7C4447.jpg
  • _H7C5773.jpg
  • _H7C5769.jpg
  • _63A8733.jpg
  • _63A8581.jpg
  • _63A8668.jpg
  • _63A8513.jpg
  • _63A8557.jpg
  • _63A8574.jpg
  • _63A8406.jpg
  • _63A7863.jpg
  • _63A7798.jpg
  • _63A7824.jpg
  • _63A7793.jpg
  • _63A7635.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Catlins, New Zealand
    Hooker Sea Lion 72_63A4095.jpg
  • _63A4104.jpg
  • _63A4087.jpg
  • CANON_Canon EOS 7D Mark II_206502144...jpg
  • CANON_Canon EOS 7D Mark II_212016384...jpg
  • CANON_Canon EOS 7D Mark II_210301184...jpg
  • CANON_Canon EOS 7D Mark II_211767808...jpg
  • CANON_Canon EOS 7D Mark II_207136256...jpg
  • CANON_Canon EOS 7D Mark II_206444800...jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 18_H7C5111.jpg
  • Hooker Sea Lion, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Hooker Sea Lion 01.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 36_H7C5095.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion and Pied Oystercatchers, Otago Peninsula
    Hooker's Sea Lion and Pied Oystercat...jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 16_H7C5101.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 35_H7C5092.jpg
  • Hooker Sea Lion, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Hooker Sea Lion 11_1040.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 37_H7C5499.jpg
  • New Zealand Fur Seal, Stewart Island
    Hooker's Sea Lion 07_9891.pg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, bathing in the kelp, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 24_H7C4957.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 31_H7C5030.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 19_H7C5163.jpg
  • Hooker Sea Lion, juvenile, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Hooker Sea Lion 02, juvenile.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 20_H7C5256.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 25_H7C4990.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 28_H7C5002.jpg
  • Hooker Sea Lion, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Hooker Sea Lion 03.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 17_H7C5105.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea lion, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 06_9188.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea lion, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 04_9191.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea lion, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 05_9195.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 33_H7C5062.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 34_H7C5460.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Catlins, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 14_9863.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 29_H7C5420.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 30_H7C5438.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 32_H7C5442.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Stewart Island
    Hooker's Sea Lion 08_9895.jpg
  • Hooker Sea Lion, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Hooker Sea Lion 09_1044.jpg
  • Hooker Sea Lion, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Hooker Sea Lion 10_1031.jpg
  • _H7C5888.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 22_H7C5296.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 23_H7C5371.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Southland, New Zealand
    Hooker's Sea Lion 26_H7C5380.jpg
  • _63A5601.jpg
  • _H7C9272.jpg
  • _H7C9292.jpg
  • _63A4689.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Catlins, New Zealand
    Hooker Sea Lion 73_63A4107.jpg
  • _63A4110.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Catlins, New Zealand
    Hooker Sea Lion 74_63A4140.jpg
  • _63A4168.jpg
  • _63A4181.jpg
  • Hooker's Sea Lion, Waipapa Point, Catlins, New Zealand
    Hooker Sea Lion 75_63A4223.jpg
  • _63A4136.jpg
  • _63A4216.jpg
  • Pair of ambling Hooker's Sea Lions, Waipapa Point, Catlins, New Zealand
    Hooker Sea Lion 71_63A4390.jpg
  • _H7C4877.jpg
View: 100 | All
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Kea Photography

  • New Zealand
    • NZ Birds
    • NZ Wildlife
    • NZ Landscapes by region
    • Panoramic
    • NZ by theme
    • Kiwiana
  • Stock Photos
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • About
  • Contact
  • Clients
  • Products & Gifts
    • Books
    • Gallery Prints
    • Tote Bags