Adelaide, Australia – For the first time, researchers have shown that Australian sea lion pups can learn foraging behavior directly from their mothers. Using body-worn cameras and tracking devices, a mother sea lion was observed taking her pup on an eight-hour foraging trip.

“Social transmission of information helps young to develop specialised and complex foraging behaviours,” said Nathan Angelakis of Adelaide University’s Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories and SARDI Aquatic Sciences. “Our research has provided the first direct evidence for mother-to-pup social transmission of foraging behaviour in Australian sea lions.”

The study revealed that when accompanied by a pup, the mother adjusted her diving and feeding patterns. Trips with the pup involved shorter dives and focused on macroalgae-dominated reefs, with only three prey attempts, compared to 172 on solo trips to deeper, invertebrate-rich areas.

Australian sea lions have a unique 18-month reproductive cycle, longer than other otariids, allowing extended maternal care. This prolonged care likely gives mothers time to teach pups essential foraging skills.

Understanding this social learning could help conservation efforts. Angelakis noted that joint foraging trips may influence pup survival and population dynamics, while also affecting interactions with predators like white sharks and human fisheries.

The research highlights the important role mothers play in preparing pups for independent life in the wild, demonstrating a rare example of learned foraging behavior among otariids.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download