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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Eva Corlett in Wellington

Living with lions: the New Zealand city where humans and sea lions co-exist

Sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) pups play in a nursery pool in Hooper's Inlet, Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
Sea lion pups play in a nursery pool in Hooper's Inlet near Dunedin Photograph: Derek Morrison/Credit: Derek Morrison

If a neighbourhood cat padded into your garden it would barely register a passing glance. But what if it was a whiskery, 300kg male sea lion, with a mouth full of teeth, seeking love on your doorstep, or a heavily pregnant sea lion lounging among the flowers?

For those living in New Zealand’s southern city, Dunedin – where a growing population of sea lions are becoming resident – close interactions with the rare and charismatic animals are increasingly a reality.

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