Colonies of South American sea lions are a near-constant companion on landings through the Falkland Islands and along the shingle beaches of Patagonia. Look for the bulls first — their heavy heads and thick manes make them unmistakable against the smaller, sleeker females hauled out beside them.
They feed mainly on fish and cephalopods, diving from the same gravel and rocky shorelines where they rest. Breeding bulls take territory seriously, holding both a patch of beach and a harem of females against rivals; the less dominant males, unable to win outright, sometimes cause outright chaos in the group trying to sneak a chance. It makes for one of the livelier scenes on an otherwise quiet shore.
Sightings continue through the sheltered waters of the Beagle Channel and Tierra del Fuego, where small groups often haul out on isolated rocks close to the ship. The species is not considered at risk, with a stable population estimated around 265,000 animals across its range.
