Sea lion proud of himself after searching boats to find his friends

Sea lions are adorable creatures that capture our hearts and entertain us to no end. The Galapagos Islands are home to thousands of them and they populate almost every beach and rocky shore among the islands. They are playful and intelligent, and their antics are fun for the tourists as well as the residents of these beautiful islands. Often referred to as "sea dogs", they are very similar in personalities and facial expressions to our loveable canine companions.

One of the most entertaining things about these sea lions is their habit of finding amusing places to sleep and sunbathe. These seal lions enjoy hopping into the little fishing boats and water taxis moored in the harbour. A large male has just returned from deeper waters and he is in search of his friends, or rather, his ladies. Male sea lions are in charge of colonies of a few dozen females and their offspring. They watch over them protectively and they also enjoy a little cuddle time, often sleeping right next to them. As the bull swam around, he popped up out of the water to look into a few boats before finally deciding on the one with a lone female.

The bull gracefully propelled himself upwards and over the edge of the boat. Weighing up to 250kg (550lbs), this large male tipped the boat steeply before managing to heave himself fully onto it. As if proud of his accomplishment, or perhaps to announce his arrival, he barked loudly before settling down for a nap.

The people of the Galapagos Islands have a wonderful respect for nature and for the animals that share their home. They are careful to avoid interfering with the animals as much as possible. They are also very tolerant of animals like these sea lions as they routinely take over their parked boats.