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In the Galapagos Islands, sea lions are everywhere. They are one of the most successful predators here and they live in abundance around most of the islands. Wherever there are fish, you'll find sea lions. They populate the beaches, cover the rocks along the shore, and swim in great numbers in the shallow waters. They are capable swimmers and they spend a few hours each day hunting for fish, octopus, eels, and crabs. They spend the rest of the day lounging and sleeping. The people living on the islands, and even the tourists here have become very accustomed to them and they manage to live harmoniously with these funny animals. The sea lions generally ignore people and keep the same respectful distance. But the sea lions will claim their spot for sleeping in any location they like. They will climb onto almost any flat surface for a snooze. This includes boats in the harbor, picnic tables, sandy beaches, park benches, sidewalks, and even street gutters. This can be very amusing, especially for those who have not grown up here. Their comical way of sprawling out on their backs to sleep makes them resemble a very intoxicated person who has not managed to make their way home after a particularly wild party. Here in the Galapagos, people are encouraged to keep a respectful 2m (6 foot) distance between themselves and the sea lions. The residents are committed to not interfering with the animal life, or nature in any way. They strongly encourage guests on their islands to abide by these rules as well. The balance of nature is a delicate one and harassing, or even helping an animal can have disastrous consequences. What most people don't know is that the adorable baby sea lions on the beach will be abandoned if the mother smells humans on them. It is too easy to want to interact with these furry babies, especially when they persistently seek contact with people, but doing so means almost certain death for the infants. The mothers are usually not far away and will usually return to care for the young after a hunting trip. Even in the case of babies who are not being cared for, interfering is discouraged. The Galapagos Islands are an exciting destination from nay reasons, but sea lions are a very memorable part of the experience.