A viral TikTok video has sparked a debate on the app and on Twitter as to whether a woman working on a small ocean vessel should have made a sea lion go back in the water as three orcas were circling her boat.

The sea lion leaped out of the water onto the boat to escape the orcas that were chasing it. It looked comfortable waiting there until the orcas left, but the woman on the boat had other plans. the woman was frightened of the orcas and was clearly worried about what the orcas would do to get access to the sea lion. 

Viewers of the video were contributing to both sides of the question of what they would do in the same situation. 

So I pose the same question to you: Would you help save the sea lion from the orcas?

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The Australian Sea Lion population has been declining for the past few decades. So much so that a Scientific Committee recommended the sea lions be upgraded to Endangered from their Threatened status. 

The upgrade in status will afford more protections and more funds to help monitor the populations and help better determine and monitor the recovery plan. 

The population is being hit by an increase in mercury levels, sea-level rise, and fishing pressure. 

The new protections have included protecting a large area from bottom gillnet fishing in the same place where the sea lions forage. 

Link to Article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/04/population-of-australias-only-unique-seal-has-fallen-by-60-study-finds?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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