Southern Sea Lion colony in Patagonia at all time
high
World Land Trust
Recent reports from the World Land Trust reserve in Patagonia, document
an incredible increase of 300% in Sea Lion numbers in less than three
years.
The New Year has brought exciting news from World Land Trust (WLT) partners,
the Fundación Patagonia Natural (FPN). The Sea Lion numbers at
the Estancia la Esperanza reserve are now at an all time high. The colony,
established around the same time as the reserve, has increased from 35
individuals in February 2001, to 105 individuals recorded in December
2003.
The Southern Sea Lion (Otaria byronia) is found throughout the
Patagonian coastal region, and is a magnificent animal. Males grow up
to almost eleven feet long and weigh up to 300kg with females up to eight
feet long and up to 144kg in weight. However, the Southern Sea Lion has
been a victim of the fur trade in the past, which caused a significant
decline in numbers on individuals and in their range. Today, although
it is illegal to kill Sea Lions in Argentina, numbers are still declining
due to human disturbance such as commercial fishing.
In light of this, the recent colony expansion at Estancia la Esperanza
is incredibly important, and shows that under
adequate protection Sea Lion populations can flourish.
The Estancia La Esperanza reserve, located in
the buffer zone of the Valdes Peninsular in Patagonia,
was set up specifically for this purpose. Consisting
of 15,000 acres of coastal steppe habitat, the
reserve provides a refuge for the Southern Sea
Lion, as well as numerous threatened species,
such as the Southern Right Whale, Guanaco, Elephant
Seals, Puma, and Geoffroy's Cat.
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