Big Daddy

This is a 400 kilo mass of sea lion in it's natural habitat - sleeping on a beach during the day because it usually hunts at night.  However, it can manage a smart 26 kilometres per hour on the sand and it is generally advised that you don't get closer than 12 metres and certainly not between it and the sea!  You also don't turn your back on a big male like this who is just building up his energy for the breeding season.

Being of a prudent disposition, this is as close as we got.  There were five others further round this otherwise deserted beach which is only a few kilometres off the beaten track.  The same planet, but another world!