Luxury accommodation New Zealand in a private hotel Dunedin, Otago

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New Zealand Sea Lion

Most New Zealand Sea Lions (Phocarctos hookeri), commonly known as Hooker’s Sea Lion, are found around the Auckland and Campbell islands, with only approximately 150 individuals found on the New Zealand mainland, on the south-east coast from Oamaru southwards.











This species was brought to the brink of extinction by Maori and European hunting in the mid-1800’s. Though once again in decline, population numbers are believed to now be between 10,000 and 12,000. Males are much bigger than females, being up to three metres in length and weighing 400 kg. Females grow to two metres and weigh up to 180 kgs. They are known to live up to 23 years.They feed on fish, squid, octopcrabs plus occasionally seabirds and fur seals.

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