leif_85
DSC00586_jv2hoch.
Stuttgart, Wilhelma, Sea Lion - group dynamics
The compound in which the sea lions are kept, is quite big and subdivided into two thirds water and one third rocks. About five almost mature specimens were cruising in the water, whereas the biggest male, presumably the dominant one and the mother of the cub were lying on the rocks.
Both male and female were producing barking sounds and seemed to have a problem of sorts. The male might have been competing for attention with the cub. The female almost seemed fluttered by his efforts, but definitely wanted to keep a distance between him and her cub. When he stopped barking and kept the distance the situation unwound and all relaxed. I fancy that her expression was always friendly to the male and it could even have been that she "smiled" at him.
When living with my dog (bitch) I might have gained to decipher facial expressions, which at least come close to a smile. This I deduced not so much from lookings but in a situation, where she could have laughed I attributed her presumable mood i.e. laughing to the expression she actually had. For instance when she does something better than I, she has this expression.
The female sea lion is quite easy to decipher I guess.
DSC00586_jv2hoch.
Stuttgart, Wilhelma, Sea Lion - group dynamics
The compound in which the sea lions are kept, is quite big and subdivided into two thirds water and one third rocks. About five almost mature specimens were cruising in the water, whereas the biggest male, presumably the dominant one and the mother of the cub were lying on the rocks.
Both male and female were producing barking sounds and seemed to have a problem of sorts. The male might have been competing for attention with the cub. The female almost seemed fluttered by his efforts, but definitely wanted to keep a distance between him and her cub. When he stopped barking and kept the distance the situation unwound and all relaxed. I fancy that her expression was always friendly to the male and it could even have been that she "smiled" at him.
When living with my dog (bitch) I might have gained to decipher facial expressions, which at least come close to a smile. This I deduced not so much from lookings but in a situation, where she could have laughed I attributed her presumable mood i.e. laughing to the expression she actually had. For instance when she does something better than I, she has this expression.
The female sea lion is quite easy to decipher I guess.