Common name : Hair seal, Counsellor seal
Scientific name : Neophoca cinerea
Family : Otariidae
Native to : Australia and Indian Oceans
Interesting fact : Excellent rock climbers
Conservation status : Endangered
Australian sea lions are ‘pinnipeds’, i.e. they use their fins as feet. They have different breeding seasons which range from 5 to 7 months. A male is known as a ‘bull’, a female is called a ‘cow’ and a young one is called a ‘beach weaner’. Like elephants, there have been incidents of alloparenting, where orphaned pups are adopted by other members of the herd.
