Editing Sea lion (section)

== Interactions with humans ==
[[File:Sea lions entertaining crowd in Central Park Zoo, New York City 2.jpg|thumb|Sea lions entertain a crowd in [[Central Park Zoo]]]]South American sea lions have been greatly impacted by human exploitation. During the late [[Holocene]] period to the middle of the twentieth century, [[hunter-gatherers]] along the [[Beagle Channel]] and northern [[Patagonia]] had greatly reduced the number of sea lions due to their hunting of the species and exploitation of the species' environment.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|title = Shifting niches of marine predators due to human exploitation: the diet of the South American sea lion (''Otaria flavescens'') since the late Holocene as a case study|journal = Paleobiology|date = 1 June 2015|issn = 1938-5331|pages = 387–401|volume = 41|issue = 3|doi = 10.1017/pab.2015.9|first1 = Lisette|last1 = Zenteno|first2 = Florencia|last2 = Borella|first3 = Julieta Gómez|last3 = Otero|first4 = Ernesto|last4 = Piana|first5 = Juan Bautista|last5 = Belardi|first6 = Luis Alberto|last6 = Borrero|first7 = Fabiana|last7 = Saporiti|first8 = Luis|last8 = Cardona|first9 = Enrique|last9 = Crespo| bibcode=2015Pbio...41..387Z |s2cid = 86469393}}</ref> Although [[seal hunting|sealing]] has been put to a halt, in many countries, such as [[Uruguay]], the sea lion population continues to decline because of the drastic effects humans have on their ecosystems.<ref name=":4" /> As a result, South American sea lions have been foraging at higher tropical latitudes than they did prior to human exploitation.<ref name=":4" /> 

Fishermen play a key role in the endangerment of sea lions. Sea lions rely on fish, like pollock, as a food source and have to compete with fishermen for it.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|title = Why do People Care about Sea Lions? A Fishing Game to Study the Value of Endangered Species|journal = Environmental and Resource Economics|date = 12 December 2013|issn = 0924-6460|pages = 503–523|volume = 59|issue = 4|doi = 10.1007/s10640-013-9746-8|first1 = Min|last1 = Gong|first2 = Geoffrey|last2 = Heal|s2cid = 154083833}}</ref> When fishermen are successful at their job, they greatly reduce the sea lion's food source, which in turn endangers the species.<ref name=":5" /> Also, human presence and human recreational activities can cause sea lions to engage in violent and aggressive actions.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|title = Human impacts on Australian sea lions, Neophoca cinerea, hauled out on Carnac Island (Perth, Western Australia): implications for wildlife and tourism management|url = http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/238/|website = researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au|date = 1 January 2004|access-date = 30 October 2015|first = Orsini|last = Jean-Paul}}</ref> When humans come closer than 15 meters of a sea lion, the sea lions' vigilance increases because of the disturbance of humans.<ref name=":6" /> These disturbances can potentially cause sea lions to have psychological stress responses that cause the sea lions to retreat, sometimes even abandon their locations, and decreases the amount of time sea lions spend hauling out.<ref name=":6" /> [[File:Cal Sea Lions on Pier 39.JPG|thumb|Hundreds of [[California sea lion]]s congregating at [[Pier 39]], [[San Francisco]]]]

New Zealand sea lions were also exploited from hunting and sealing, and as a result were [[Local extinction|extirpated]] from New Zealand's mainland for over 150 years, with their population being restricted to the subantarctic.<ref name=":11">{{Cite journal|last1=Childerhouse|first1=Simon|last2=Gales|first2=Nick|date=1998-01-01|title=Historical and modern distribution and abundance of the New Zealand sea lion Phocarctos hookeri|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.1998.9518131|journal=New Zealand Journal of Zoology|volume=25|issue=1|pages=1–16|doi=10.1080/03014223.1998.9518131|issn=0301-4223|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 1993, a female New Zealand sea lion gave birth on the mainland for the first time, and since then, they have slowly been recolonizing.<ref name=":11" /> These sea lions are the only pinnipeds that regularly move up to {{Convert|2|km|mi}} inland into forests.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Augé|first1=Amélie|last2=Chilvers|last3=Moore|last4=Mathieu|last5=Robertson|date=2009-01-01|title=Aggregation and dispersion of female New Zealand sea lions at the Sandy Bay breeding colony, Auckland Islands: How unusual is their spatial behaviour?|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/beh/146/9/article-p1287_7.xml|journal=Behaviour|language=en|volume=146|issue=9|pages=1287–1311|doi=10.1163/15683909X427687|issn=0005-7959|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Augé|first1=Amélie A.|last2=Chilvers|first2=B. Louise|last3=Mathieu|first3=Renaud|last4=Moore|first4=Antoni B.|date=2012|title=On-land habitat preferences of female New Zealand sea lions at Sandy Bay, Auckland Islands|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00515.x|journal=Marine Mammal Science|language=en|volume=28|issue=3|pages=620–637|doi=10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00515.x|bibcode=2012MMamS..28..620A |issn=1748-7692|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Frans|first1=Veronica F.|last2=Augé|first2=Amélie A.|last3=Edelhoff|first3=Hendrik|last4=Erasmi|first4=Stefan|last5=Balkenhol|first5=Niko|last6=Engler|first6=Jan O.|date=2018|title=Quantifying apart what belongs together: A multi-state species distribution modelling framework for species using distinct habitats|journal=Methods in Ecology and Evolution|language=en|volume=9|issue=1|pages=98–108|doi=10.1111/2041-210X.12847|s2cid=91050320|issn=2041-210X|doi-access=free|bibcode=2018MEcEv...9...98F }}</ref> As consequence, they have been hit by cars on roads, deliberately killed, and been disturbed by dogs.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Jim|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/conservation/native-animals/marine-mammals/nz-sea-lion-tmp/reivew-sea-lion-threats-2015.pdf|title=Review of threats to the recovery of NZ sea lions and other otariid species|publisher=National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd|year=2015|location=Wellington|pages=11–14|archive-date=3 November 2021|access-date=22 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103195039/https://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/conservation/native-animals/marine-mammals/nz-sea-lion-tmp/reivew-sea-lion-threats-2015.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Females need to move inland as a way to protect their pups, so roads, fences, residential areas, and private lands can inhibit their dispersal and breeding success.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal|last1=Frans|first1=Veronica F.|last2=Augé|first2=Amélie A.|last3=Fyfe|first3=Jim|last4=Zhang|first4=Yuqian|last5=McNally|first5=Nathan|last6=Edelhoff|first6=Hendrik|last7=Balkenhol|first7=Niko|last8=Engler|first8=Jan O.|title=Integrated SDM database: Enhancing the relevance and utility of species distribution models in conservation management|url=https://publications.goettingen-research-online.de/bitstream/2/94362/1/Methods%20Ecol%20Evol%20-%202021%20-%20Frans%20-%20Integrated%20SDM%20database%20Enhancing%20the%20relevance%20and%20utility%20of%20species%20distribution.pdf|journal=Methods in Ecology and Evolution|year=2022|volume=13|issue=1|pages=243–261|language=en|doi=10.1111/2041-210X.13736|bibcode=2022MEcEv..13..243F|s2cid=243893898|issn=2041-210X|archive-date=6 January 2024|access-date=6 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106062405/https://publications.goettingen-research-online.de/bitstream/2/94362/1/Methods%20Ecol%20Evol%20-%202021%20-%20Frans%20-%20Integrated%20SDM%20database%20Enhancing%20the%20relevance%20and%20utility%20of%20species%20distribution.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> They have also adapted to commercial pine forests,<ref name=":12" /> and have given birth or nursed pups in residents' backyards and on golf courses.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-14|title=New Zealand city closes busy road for weeks to protect sea lion mother and pup|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/14/new-zealand-city-closes-busy-road-to-protect-sea-lion-mother-and-pup|access-date=2021-11-22|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> As one of the world's rarest sea lions, and an endangered and endemic species, efforts are being made to facilitate coexistence between them and humans.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Graham-McLay|first=Charlotte|date=2021-11-09|title=New Zealand's Sea Lions Are Back, and Crashing Golf Courses and Soccer Matches|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/09/science/new-zealand-sea-lions.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/09/science/new-zealand-sea-lions.html |archive-date=2021-12-28 |url-access=limited|access-date=2021-11-22|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title='Cheeky' sea lions are returning to New Zealand's shores — and locals are learning to share the coast|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/11/13/new-zealand-sealions-return-study/|access-date=2021-11-22|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=13 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113212521/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/11/13/new-zealand-sealions-return-study/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sea lion attacks on humans are rare, but when humans come within approximately {{convert|2.5| meters|ft|0}}, it can be very unsafe.<ref name=":6" /> In a highly unusual attack in 2007 in [[Western Australia]], a sea lion leapt from the water and seriously mauled a 13-year-old girl surfing behind a speedboat. The sea lion appeared to be preparing for a second attack when the girl was rescued. An Australian marine biologist suggested that the sea lion may have viewed the girl "like a rag doll toy" to be played with.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6556895.stm Sea lion attacks Australian girl] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831145107/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6556895.stm |date=31 August 2017 }}. BBC News (15 April 2007). Retrieved on 2016-05-09.</ref><ref>Hayward, Andrea (15 April 2007) [https://web.archive.org/web/20070519221540/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21560487-2,00.html Monster sea lion likely to be 'playing' with teen]. news.com.au</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071030001559/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,21557673-953,00.html Sea lion mauls girl]. News.com.au (15 April 2007).</ref> In [[San Francisco]], where an increasingly large population of [[California sea lion]]s crowds docks along San Francisco Bay, incidents have been reported in recent years of swimmers being bitten on the legs by large, aggressive males, possibly as [[territory (animal)|territorial acts]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/16/MNGMFMDVGC1.DTL&hw=sea+lion&sn=011&sc=518 | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | first=Jane | last=Kay | title=Rogue sea lion in S.F. menaces swimmers / Marauding mammal bites at least 14, chases 10 from Aquatic Park Lagoon | date=24 June 2011 | archive-date=21 October 2009 | access-date=22 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021234747/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2006%2F11%2F16%2FMNGMFMDVGC1.DTL&hw=sea%20lion&sn=011&sc=518 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Harrell, Ashley |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-10-07/news/too-cute-to-shoot/ |title=Too Cute to Shoot? – Page 1 – News – San Francisco |newspaper=SF Weekly |date=7 October 2009 |access-date=28 June 2012 |archive-date=10 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810041018/http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-10-07/news/too-cute-to-shoot/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 2015, a sea lion attacked a 62-year-old man who was boating with his wife in [[San Diego]]. The attack left the man with a punctured bone.<ref>{{cite web|title = Sea lion attacks San Diego man posing for photo, yanks him overboard|url = http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sea-lion-attacks-san-diego-man-posing-for-photo-yanks-him-overboard/|website = www.cbsnews.com|date = 30 April 2015|access-date = 30 October 2015|archive-date = 1 November 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151101012913/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sea-lion-attacks-san-diego-man-posing-for-photo-yanks-him-overboard/|url-status = live}}</ref> In May 2017, a sea lion grabbed and pulled a girl into the water by her dress before retreating.  The child was sitting on a pier side in [[British Columbia]] while tourists were illegally feeding the sea lions when the incident took place.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2017/05/21/video-shows-the-terrifying-moment-a-sea-lion-yanks-a-girl-into-the-water/|title=Video shows the terrifying moment a sea lion yanks a girl into the water|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2017-05-22}}</ref> She was pulled out of the water with minor injuries and received antibiotic prophylactic treatment for [[seal finger]] infection from the superficial bite injury.<ref>{{cite news |title=Steveston Sea Lion Video: Girl Grabbed By Animal Treated For Superficial Wound |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/05/23/residents-blame-sea-lion-incident-on-people-not-the-animal-or-harbour-authority_n_16775688.html |access-date=20 September 2018 |work=HuffPost Canada |date=23 May 2017 |archive-date=2 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802101658/https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/05/23/residents-blame-sea-lion-incident-on-people-not-the-animal-or-harbour-authority_n_16775688.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40056576|title=Sea lion attack: Girl treated over 'seal finger' risk|date=2017-05-26|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-05-26|language=en-GB|archive-date=2 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802091338/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40056576|url-status=live}}</ref>

There have also been documented events of sea lions assisting humans. One such notable instance of this is when [[Kevin Hines]] jumped off the [[Golden Gate Bridge]] in a suicide attempt and was helped to stay afloat by a sea lion until he was rescued by the [[Coast guard|Coast Guard]].<ref name="sealion">{{cite news |last=Bergeron |first=Ryan |date=2019-08-12 |title=He jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and survived. Now, he's seeing his wish for a safety net come true |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/09/health/turning-points-kevin-hines-golden-gate-bridge-suicide-survivor/ |accessdate=2019-08-17}}</ref>

Sea lions have also been a focus of tourism in Australia and New Zealand.<ref name=":6" /> One of the main sites to view sea lions is in the [[Carnac Island]] Nature Reserve near [[Perth]] in Western Australia. This tourist site receives over 100,000 visitors, many of whom are recreational boaters and tourists, who can watch the male sea lions haul out on to the shore.<ref name=":6" /> They have sometimes been called "the unofficial welcoming committee of the [[Galápagos Islands]]".<ref name="Bret Love">"In the Galapagos Islands they're so ubiquitous that they run the risk of being taken for granted. Here, you can find this unofficial welcoming committee almost everywhere"</ref>