A large sea lion crashed onto the side of a boat while fleeing from a pod of orcas near Vancouver Island, drenching two tourists in the process.
Nearby tourists captured the incident on video. (Video: Field & Stream)
The incident was recorded by a tourist on a nearby whale-watching boat. Ernest and Viesia Godek spotted a small pod of orcas while on a boat off Vancouver Island on September 19. Following regulations, they turned off their boat’s engine to allow the orcas to swim by.
However, the Godek family experienced a shocking moment when a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) leaped out of the water and landed heavily on the side of their boat. The weight of the animal nearly capsized the vessel. Ernest and Viesia had to hold onto the opposite side to keep the boat balanced. The 4-meter-long boat was not designed to accommodate a sea lion weighing over 300 kg. The animal quickly slid back into the ocean, leaving the couple drenched and their boat filled with water. Ernest shared that the sea lion was so close he could smell it.
The sea lion collided with the boat while jumping to escape the orcas.
While it is not common for sea lions to jump onto boats, it does happen occasionally. A similar incident occurred off the coast of British Columbia, where a sea lion also fled from orcas hunting. The Godek family was unsure if the sea lion they encountered managed to escape, but they were unharmed and returned safely to shore.
California sea lions are native marine mammals found along the western coast of North America. Males can grow to lengths of 2.5 to 2.7 meters and weigh up to 523 kg, while females typically measure around 2.1 meters and weigh about 100 kg. They primarily feed on fish and squid and are often preyed upon by orcas and great white sharks. California sea lions are particularly intelligent and can be trained to perform various tasks, showing little fear of humans.
