Ocean Sentry
Recent genetic data support the classification as a separate species that separated from the California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) about 2.3 ± 0.5 million years ago. The Galápagos Sea Lion population declined by 60-65% from 1978 to 2001. Since then there is no evidence of further decline or increase. Introduced species, such as dogs, carry diseases that can spread to sea lions. They are vulnerable to the effects of climate change on ocean currents, which impacts their fish prey abundance. They are also victims of bycatch in fisheries. Frequent direct contact between sea lions and domestic dogs in the settlements on San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela islands present a great danger of disease transmission. The species is described as ”endangered” by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
