Drone accidentally captures footage of sea lions hunting salemas

4 months ago
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Salemas are a type of porgy fish that school in massive numbers in the Galapagos Islands. Sea lions hunt these fish by herding them into tight balls and then blasting through them in the hope of capturing one or two disoriented or confused individuals. These sea lions have found a shallow bay where the salemas have taken shelter. They move swiftly from one side of the bay to the other as they take turns trying to catch a meal. The school of salemas forms a dark cloud, as seen by a drone flying overhead. As the sea lions make their way through the mass, the salemas dart sideways for cover, creating a clear area that surrounds the sea lions. The effect is quite a sight from the sky.
Sea lions are surprisingly agile in the water. Clumsy on land, they are designed for swimming rapidly and moving in all directions under water. They are capable of catching fish, eels, octopus, and other ocean creatures.
This drone was being flown as part of a research flight to map areas of the shore line. Recording the sea lions hunting was an unintentional, but interesting occurrence.

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