Smelly socks

Australian Sea Lion - Kangaroo Island, Australia

While strolling with others on a beach on Kangaroo Island in Australia, we were approached by a curious young sea lion that had just swum ashore. We stood still and let the sea lion approach. He came right up to my husband, took a sniff and then scampered off. I only had my telephoto lens with me and I was unable to capture the full scene. However, the shot that I did take is probably more interesting and certainly more amusing than the one that I would have taken had I had a smaller lens on the camera.

Other captions that were considered were "You know that it's time to change your socks when they attract sea lions" and "Sure smells like fish."

Sea lions differ from seals in a number of ways. They have ear flaps instead of ear holes and they can walk on land by rotating their hind flippers forward and underneath their bodies.

Approximately 15,000 Australian Sea Lions inhabit the southern and western coast of Australia. This sea lion is part of a colony who live on Seal Bay in Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island is the third largest island in Australia after Tasmania and Melville Island. Less that 4,600 people inhabit the island. The island is known for its natural beauty and wildlife.

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