Scientific name: Neophoca cinerea 
Conservation status: Endangered
Size: Males 2-2.5m, females 1.3-1.8m
Weight: Males 250-300kg, females 70-100kg
Diet: Carnivore eating cephalopods, fish, and other marine animals
Baby: Pup

These marine mammals are endemic to Australian waters, found from Houtman Abrolhos, north of Perth, to The Pages, east of Kangaroo Island. Colonies occur on sandy beaches and protected bays, both on the mainland and offshore islands. Females return to their birth site to breed. 

Australian Sea-lions are carnivores that eat a diverse diet of sea creatures. Cephalopods such as octopus, cuttlefish, and squid are their main food source, but they also feed on fish, crustaceans like crabs and lobsters, small sharks, rays, and sometimes even penguins. They are opportunistic feeders that catch most of their food on the sea floor, commonly foraging amongst seagrass meadows. These predators can sometimes fall prey to larger animals like Great White Sharks and Orcas. 

Australian Sea-lions were hunted near extinction from the 18th to early 20th century, and though now a protected species, they have not fully recovered to their historic population levels. The Australian Sea-lion is classed as endangered, facing a range of high rates of entanglement with fishing gear, overfishing of their prey, and human disturbance of colonies.  

Wild sea-lions can be seen along much of Australia’s southern coastline in South Australia and Western Australia. Sydney’s beaches and harbour are home to Australian Fur Seals and Long-nosed Fur Seals, such as the famous Benny who basks on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. If you do spot a seal or sea-lion in the wild it is important to keep your distance to avoid any disturbance and keep you both safe.  

The best way to get up close with these majestic mammals is to visit the Great Southern Oceans habitat at Taronga Zoo, and at the Seals for the Wild Presentation, powered by Red Energy.

Taronga supports the conservation of Australian Sea-lions as part of the zoo-based breeding program, and by promoting MSC-certified sustainable seafood through our Fish for Good campaign. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) are a global non-profit working to end overfishing, ensuring that the seafood we eat comes from a sustainable and well-managed source. MSC-certification has helped rocker lobster fisheries to eliminate the bycatch of sea-lion pups through the introduction of exclusion devices.

Choosing products with the MSC blue fish tick helps protect Australian Sea-lions and the food they eat. Simply look for the MSC blue fish tick when shopping for seafood to help keep our oceans healthy and teeming with life. Head to the Fish for Good page to learn more.