I used to go snorkeling a lot in La Jolla Cove, which has a lot of seals and sea lions. The seals never really did much but sit there, but every so often a sea lion would just screw with you and not leave you alone. And it's really spooky floating in the kelp beds checking out the Girabaldi when this huge dark form comes rushing in at you and then body checks you.

One thing people don't realize is that they're big, and have quite the set of teeth on them. I always gave them a pretty wide berth. I was playing in their pool, after all.

Odds are higher than you might think that the sea lion really did mistake, her, or actually something on her, to be his next meal.

The girl was wearing a solid white dress, but with red decorations, maybe flowers, on the front and sides. Notice on the hips are large red flowers. They had been feeding the sea lion, and then she puts that red, bite-sized image right there in front of it.

Carnivores, at least the ones in the water, generally know red might mean a feeding opportunity. Sea lions, most likely, are used to keying on red objects such as an injured fish. The one in the video likely lives near a wharf where red colored fish parts probably get dumped into the water daily. It might even compete with other sea lions to try to be the first one to get the part before it hits the water.

quote:

Originally posted by rusbro:
Odds are higher than you might think that the sea lion really did mistake, her, or actually something on her, to be his next meal.

The girl was wearing a solid white dress, but with red decorations, maybe flowers, on the front and sides. Notice on the hips are large red flowers. They had been feeding the sea lion, and then she puts that red, bite-sized image right there in front of it.

Carnivores, at least the ones in the water, generally know red might mean a feeding opportunity. Sea lions, most likely, are used to keying on red objects such as an injured fish. The one in the video likely lives near a wharf where red colored fish parts probably get dumped into the water daily. It might even compete with other sea lions to try to be the first one to get the part before it hits the water.

That's an interesting theory. Or another, maybe he wanted her out of the way so someone could feed him.

Favors Teddy Roosevelt...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 83v45magna,

Yet another example of how hopelessly stupid the general population has become. Do I blame the little girl? Absolutely not given her age. Do I blame the morons standing around her when this happened. Absolutely!

Sea lions have canines the size of a German Shepherd's. They eat penguins. They are apex predators where they live, outclassed only by large sharks, Orcas, and of course, humans. Fortunate child.

In continuing with the story, the sea lion returned a half hour later as it was still hungry.... Sorry, had to.
Yes stupidity by the parents.

The animal was frustrated. They get fed all the time, which is bad, but this as not predatory behavior.

My wife showed me a more complete vid of this incident where family members are clearly teasing this large predator, repeatedly pretending to feed it to get it to rear up out of the water. It got fed up with not getting fed up, and lashed out.

quote:

Originally posted by Paragon:
I know that every single one of you would have been in the water as fast as her relative. No thought to your own safety.

I would have been the one standing there in shock.

Dang, that was scary.

Having never been in such a situation, I really don't know what I would have done. However, I hope I would have been able to immediately leap to the girl's rescue (relative or not) were I there.

Many people today are conditioned to simply stand by gasping and gawking in emergency situations. There is a phenomenon whereby the larger the crowd, the LESS likely it is that anybody will get personally involved (be it an animal attack, auto accident, somebody stabbing their girlfriend to death, etc). It seems that the media and law enforcement are always preaching the "let the professionals handle it" line in these situations, so that people simply stand around waiting for somebody ELSE to come to the rescue. It is called "Diffusion of Responsibility," where people assume there is always 'somebody else' that will get involved.

I respect the heck out of that guy who immediately jumped in to save that girl. He's a real hero (and, of course, he didn't know if there was still a PO'd Sea Lion lurking there to attack him) when he dived in. That was a completely heroic selfless act.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...on_of_responsibility

quote:

Diffusion of responsibility[1] is a sociopsychological phenomenon whereby a person is less likely to take responsibility for action or inaction when others are present. Considered a form of attribution, the individual assumes that others either are responsible for taking action or have already done so.[2] The phenomenon tends to occur in groups of people above a certain critical size and when responsibility is not explicitly assigned. It rarely occurs when the person is alone and diffusion increases with groups of three or more.[3][4]

I was at Glacier Park two weeks ago, Beautiful day, only allowed access in about 5 miles on the East side. We stop at Two Dog Flats and there's a Grizzly with two CUBS ...200 yds away.

Sure enough some folks stop and start walking out into the field! I assumed they may go a few yards for some pics. NO they are headed right out there. I yelled to them to get back and they did. A man and women from New Zealand.

I walked over and apologized for shouting at them and explained WHY I had done it. They were clueless of the danger. I asked them "how close would You have walked up to the bear"?

They both stated, close enough to get "good Photos" of the cubs!!

When it comes to wild animals the average person is an IDIOT.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Quick reaction by the rescuer.
Many people would have just stood there in shock.

I actually thought it a bit slow. But perhaps it takes a few moments to comprehend something so unusual.

if you were a lifeguard on a beach and a large shark started devouring a swimmer 50 to 100 yds off the beach, would you go in to help them ?

There are many tourists in Banff, and the ones who get the closest to animals seemingly having no clue of the risks, are from China. The thing is, the risks are clearly posted, and they are even in Mandarin!

I certainly hope the rescuer was a relative and knew the girl, because the girl and the (mom?) woman just walked away without thanking him otherwise.

Damn sea lions. Last time I went fishing up in Sitka they would follow the boat around and go after the Kings we were reeling in. I hauled in a lot of salmon that were bitten in half that day.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gustofer,

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
if you were a lifeguard on a beach and a large shark started devouring a swimmer 50 to 100 yds off the beach, would you go in to help them ?

Sharks are endangered and it would be wrong to interfere with their feeding.