Sea Lions grooving in the sunshine in Tofino, BC

Here's looking at you, kid!

Sea lions love to bask in the sunshine - who doesn't?
Sea lions have four flippers that allow them to be quick in the water and also to manoeuvre on land.

Sea lions can range in colour from black to a rich brown.

Sea lions are social animals and hang out together. Just like we do.

Tofino Sea Lions

Sea lions are able to swim quickly and gracefully through the water and also move on land using their four flippers. Compared to seals they have longer necks and ears on the outside. There are lots of sea lions around Tofino. The two species here are Steller's Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and the California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus).

Steller's Sea Lions are pretty big with the males averaging about 700 kilograms! Females are smaller: about a third the size of a male. Their colouring is black to a rich brown and the males, or bulls, develop thick manes around their necks.

California Sea Lions breed in the waters south of Vancouver Island. The bulls then hit the road and can make their way up to BC. California sea lions are smaller than Stellers by about half and are also very playful. The trained 'seals' one sees is usually a California sea lion.