SEA LION PLAYFULLY NIBBLES DIVER’S CAMERA<br />WITH PIX AND VID<br />By Shuk Yee Tsang<br />A curious sea lion gives an underwater cameraman an unforgettable close-up, appearing to nibble his camera during a playful encounter at sea.<br />The footage was captured by Evans Baudin, 38, originally from Paris who now lives in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, while filming in Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico, <br />The video shows dozens of sea lions resting offshore before several of them swim over to investigate the diver.<br />Circling calmly in the water, the animals appear relaxed and inquisitive, with one sea lion becoming especially interested in Baudin’s fins before turning its attention to the camera itself.<br />Rather than acting aggressively, the sea lion appears to gently mouth the equipment, a behaviour commonly linked to curiosity and play among the species.<br />Encounters like this are typical when sea lions feel comfortable and unthreatened in their environment.<br />Evans Baudin said: “As soon as I entered the water, most of them became curious and started swimming around me, circling gracefully and interacting in a very playful way.<br />“One individual in particular approached me, first nibbling at my fins, not aggressively, but clearly out of curiosity and play.<br />“Moments like this are a reminder that these animals are not here for us, we are visitors in their world.<br />“Encounters like this only happen when you respect their space, read their behaviour, and allow them to choose the interaction.”<br />ENDS
