Sea Lions, La Jolla Cove, La Jolla California

While most of the Sea Lions at La Jolla Cove in La Jolla California spend most of the day sunning on the rocks (working on their tans?) there are always a few young males contesting ownership of a rock or ledge or pool. It is mostly posturing. Their teeth are certainly capable of damage but you rarely see any real damage done. There is a lot of chest bumping and pushing and shoving and bellowing in each other’s faces. But it is mostly for show…not so different, when you stop to think about it, from young males of our own species. They likely will not pick up any real scars until they challenge an older male, one who has already established dominance. Those battles can be much more than posturing…but I have a feeling they mostly take place in off-shore waters and out of sight. Sony RX10iv at 356mm. Program mode. -.3EV. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.