​

Missing its lion-like manes, the California Sea Lions live along the rocky western North American Pacific Coastlines. The fastest of the pinniped species, the California Sea Lions navigate through the waters at top speeds of about 25 miles per hour, subsisting in the ecosystem by feeding on fishes, crustaceans, squids and other meat items found in the ocean. With their adaptive nature, some of the California Sea Lions come ashore to San Francisco’s beautiful Pier 39, conveniently making it their natural habitat and sharing it with their cousins, the seals. However, these creatures recently have been experiencing unusually high mortality rate, caused by different things ranging from human activities to lack of resources and to bacteria (Leptospirosis) that destroys them internally. The U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) protects the marine mammals from any harassment, feeding, capture and killing! Indeed, the MMPA establishes a rule of law to protect these amazing creatures—but, are they really protected against any harms? As you surf through this, you will learn about these creatures, their habitats, how to protect them, and their unique facts that make them who they are!