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Intrepid Explorer

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.

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Filename: Hooker's Sea Lion Pup_H7C6643.jpg
Copyright: Kimball Chen
Image Size: 5760x3840 / 20.3MB; www.keaphotography.org; Catlins Hooker's Sea Lion New Zealand New Zealand sea lion endangered endemic mammal marine sea lion wildlife
Contained in galleries: New Zealand Sea Lion Underwater Photos, Endangered Species

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.