SEA LION GIVES HOTEL GUESTS A SURPRISE POOL VISIT<br />WITH PIX AND VID<br />By Shuk Yee Tsang<br />A laid-back sea lion stunned guests at this hotel when it casually slipped into the swimming pool for a relaxing soak.<br />The unexpected encounter was filmed on the Galapagos islands, where wildlife famously wanders freely and seems unfazed by human presence.<br />The footage was captured by Jasper Wilkins, 32, a conservation-focused digital nomad originally from Birmingham, UK, but now travels the world advocating for ocean protection.<br />He was preparing to take a dip himself when the sea lion appeared, gliding straight into the pool as though it had booked the spot in advance.<br />Moments like these, he says, aren’t unusual in the Galapagos, where animals often behave as if humans are simply part of the landscape.<br />Jasper said: “I was going to get in the pool but a sea lion kept coming in to relax.<br />“These islands are special because you see unique wildlife everywhere and they aren’t scared of humans.<br />“I’m always looking for interesting stories about wildlife, so I quickly filmed this. <br />"Usually it can be hard to see moments like this.<br />“The oceans are vital because they produce over half the oxygen we breathe and regulate the climate.<br />“Humans take trillions of marine animals each year, and hardly anybody cares about them.<br />“If you love the ocean, help raise awareness about how people can protect it. <br />"Commercial fishing is very bad for marine life, so becoming plant-based is one of the simplest ways individuals can help.”<br />END
