Words by Robin Eveleigh August 15, 2024 Conservation Environment Society World Share: The animals in Australia have been fitted with cameras and trackers to capture unprecedented footage of their marine hunting grounds Camera-carrying sea lions have been recruited by conservationists to help map uncharted Australian waters. PhD student Nathan Angelakis from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) attached cameras and GPS loggers to Australian sea lions from colonies in Olive Island and Seal Bay. The animals can access out-of-reach habitats and cover larger areas more quickly than traditional survey vessels, offering a unique insight into marine environments from the perspective of an ocean predator.
Solutions every Saturday Uplift your inbox with our weekly newsletter. Positive News editors select the week’s top stories of progress, bringing you the essential briefing about what's going right. Sign up “ The sea lions explored unmapped areas of the ocean, found new reefs, and revealed amazing diverse habitats on the seafloor,” said Angelakis.
“This information will be crucial for conserving and managing their populations into the future. Habitats and areas that are valuable to Australian sea lions may also be important to other key marine species as well.” Australian sea lion populations have dwindled by 60% over the past 40 years.
A sea lion mother and pup. The project will give a unique insight into marine environments from a predator's pers.