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| Sea Lions and the Safari Quest |
They are big. Real big. Think twice the size of an adult male brown bear. They are the lions of the sea, otherwise known as Steller Sea Lions (
Eumetopias jubatus). They are the largest of all sea lions (or eared seals), and named after the famous naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller.
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| Airborne sea lion in Alaska |
In the middle of Frederick Sound, a place known for whales, are a couple islands named The Brothers. Here a number of steller sea lions have set up a haul out, providing a great wildlife encounter. It is just the boys, fighting and barking at each other in an endless game of king of the hill. The females and pups are at some far off beach rookery.
Whenever the weather conditions are nice and calm we take to the skiffs for a closer look at the haul out. Once we get downwind the smell is unmistakable. The big males fight off the smaller ones for the best spots. Some of the younger ones playfully swim around the boats. And suddenly, whales and bears and seem far away in everyone's mind.
They are big. Real big. Think twice the size of an adult male brown bear. They are the lions of the sea, otherwise known as Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus). They are the largest of all sea lions (or eared seals), and named after the famous naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller.
Whenever the weather conditions are nice and calm we take to the skiffs for a closer look at the haul out. Once we get downwind the smell is unmistakable. The big males fight off the smaller ones for the best spots. Some of the younger ones playfully swim around the boats. And suddenly, whales and bears and seem far away in everyone's mind. 
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