Quick Dips

Punching Sea Lions

Sneaking up on Hooker's sea lions to take pieces out of them with leather punches might seem cruel, but it's being done in their own best interests.

Victoria University doctoral student Gina Lento is undertaking a genetic survey that should provide the Department of Conservation with information on the sea lions' population structure and how far the animals travel at sea.

"The samples are taken mainly from pups, but I also need samples from mother-pup pairs," says Lento. "The DOC field biologists sneak up on them while they're nursing and snip a bit off both of them." She says the process is comparable to ear-piercing.

The project will use DNA from bones up to 5,000 years old to analyse the impact on fur seal and sea lion populations of the arrival of the Maori and of sealers.

The study may also shed some light on the debate as to whether or not seals, walruses and sea lions share a common direct ancestor.