Galápagos sea lions are the largest endemic land animal in the archipelago. The males are noticeably larger than females and have distinctive bumps on their foreheads.
Due to the islands’ isolation and strict protection measures, these animals do not fear humans. Most of their predatory threats, like sharks and killer whales, are found in the sea. On land, their only real adversaries are domestic dogs.
Galápagos sea lion numbers are in sharp decline even so. The IUCN lists the Galápagos sea lion as officially endangered. Primary threats to their continued existence include climate change, El Niño events, land and sea pollution, and infectious diseases.
National Geographic
