Sea Lion

Sea lions are one of the largest animals in New Zealand. They can dive to deep depths, they can walk on all fours, and they love to frolic and play. Sea lions can survive in disparate climates and have well-developed social structures that often mimic that of humans. In some locations, like New Zealand, sea lions make the list of largest regional animals. Disease and human encroachment threaten sea lion populations, in addition to food stress and natural predators. Fishing nets prove especially fatal to sea lions, as they get tangled in their webs and thrash about in an attempt to get loose.