Among the many wonderful and unique creatures that call the Galapagos Islands home, sea lions are among the top creatures that are a hit among tourists and locals alike.
Often nicknamed “sea dogs” because of their friendly and curious natures, just like our canine friends, one shouldn’t forget that they are still wild creatures and can still get quite territorial, as this sea lion bull let one tourist know in no uncertain terms:
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Video credit: Rumble
The people of the Galapagos take their responsibility to nature very seriously and they make sure that local rules and regulations are strictly applied to tourists, as well. There are a lot of limitations on how much development can be done on the islands and people aren’t allowed to stray closer than 2 meters (6 feet) from any wildlife.
In the video above, the tourist respectfully followed the mandated distance but just like some people, this particular sea lion apparently needed more space and didn’t appreciate being stalked. So the sea lion quickly turns towards the cameraman and picks up speed as if to sprint at him. Fortunately, the tourist got the message loud and clear and backed away even more.
Satisfied that the tourist had backed off, the sea lion continued on its merry way, awkwardly waddling along in a humorous sight along the beach before finally heading off to sea.
It’s easy to forget that for all their curious and friendly natures, sea lions are still wild creatures and have their own habits and tendencies. In any case, it’s good the tourist was sensitive enough to know that he was getting too close even though he was following the island’s general guidelines when it comes to the wildlife.
While all those strict rules and regulations in the Galapagos Islands may seem to retard its economic development, it has resulted in a beautiful environment where civilization and wildlife peacefully co-exist while allowing all living creatures, even humans, to thrive.
Perhaps this is why the Galapagos has become such a haven for divers and other nature enthusiasts who are just hungry to get as close to Mother Nature as possible and see what it could have been like if the rest of the world had followed suit.
Replaced!