Sea Lions from the Portland Zoo

Size

One of the largest of the pinniped family, male Steller sea lions can weigh up to 3,000 pounds, and females up to 770 pounds. Males are 10 to 12 feet long (they can be larger than a bear) and females average around 9 feet in length. Females are usually about one-third the size of males.



Reproduction/life span

Males maintain large harems of females after they reach social maturity at 5 to 7 years (and are able to defend a territory). Breeding season occurs from May through June in Oregon. Gestation takes about 9 months after which female sea lions give birth to one pup. Pups weigh around 50 pounds and are nearly 4 feet long at birth. Pups are born dark brown but in 4 to 6 months they shed to a lighter brown. Females give birth about every 1 to 2 years after reaching sexual maturity at 4 to 5 years. Males reach sexual maturity at 5 to 7 years. Steller sea lions live for approximately 20 years.


Stellar Cove Sea Lions

The exhibit is home to two males, named Augustus (Gus) and Julius. Gus and Julius were born at two different Sea World Parks in 1987, and came to the zoo from Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium. They are each fed between 25 and 35 pounds of fish a day, depending on the time of year. Both of these animals are blind.

Portland, Oregon Homeless Protest

On a recent visit to Portland, I found myself in the middle of a gathering of some of the estimated 10,000 of Portland's homeless. According to one of the organizers of the group, there are only around 500 beds available in local shelters. These pictures were taken in front of city hall, where the next day a law would be debated which would make sleeping on public property a crime. At the time these photos were taken, about half of the block was inhabited by these protesters.