Baby sea lion pups curiously investigate a camera on the beach in the Galapagos Islands

These baby sea lions were playing in the surf together while waiting for their mothers to return from the ocean. Sea lions inhabit almost all of the beaches and rocky shores in the Galapagos Islands. The colonies are made up of mothers who care for their babies and nurse them several times each day, the young sea lions, and at least one adult male, who watches over them all protectively. The adults go out into deep water several times each day to hunt for octopus and fish. When the mothers return, hungry pups like these two will hear their call and they will waddle eagerly after mom until she finds a spot in the sand to rest. They will nurse while their mother naps and then they too will nap. This will repeat daily until the pups are approximately two years of age. At that time, they will go off hunting for food themselves.

Grown sea lions are extremely agile in the water and they are able to avoid predators quite easily. Only large sharks are capable of preying on a large sea lion. Their strong jaws and formidable teeth make them more than a match for most animals. They also benefit from protection of the rest of the sea lions as they spend time on the beach.

These adorable babies are only a few weeks old. They are delightfully clumsy as they waddle and play at the edge of the water. They don't dare leave the protection of the shallows or the beach, but they spend their time having fun with each other and investigating anything of interest. When they spotted a GoPro camera left on the sand, they hurried right up to it for a close inspection and a sniff. They curiously looked around and nudged it before deciding that it was nothing to eat and nothing to play with.

Sea lions are cute and cuddly at this age and they readily approach humans, wanting interaction. But touching a baby sea lion means certain death as the mother will abandon the baby if she smells a human scent on it. Approaching even an adult sea lion is strictly prohibited in the Galapagos Islands. They require that all visitors maintain a distance of at least 2m (6feet) for their own safety, as well as for the benefit of the wildlife. Guests who struggle with these rules are quickly, but gently reminded by the wildlife protection services or by the residents themselves. There are many good reasons not to interfere with nature, no matter how tempting it may be.