Rukua villagers in Beqa were in for a surprise yesterday morning when they spotted a peculiar spectacle: a sea lion resting on their shore.

Village elder Orisi Cgilaba said they were having a village clean-up campaign at about 10 am when the kids spotted the sea lion swimming by the sea wall.

“We stopped what we were doing and followed it along the sea wall until it emerged by the shore on some rocks,” he said.

“The whole village was fascinated to see something like that emerge from the sea.”

“it’s not every day we get to see one.”

“It must have travelled a far distance and wanted to rest by the rocks.”

“We understand that sea lions survive in a cold environment so it’s concerning that it was able to travel all the way to the village.”

“This is a clear indication of the impacts of climate change that we are going through in Fiji and the pacific.”

“We have noticed a shift in the weather patterns recently.”

“Even when the sun is hot, there is a cold sea breeze,” Mr. Cagilaba said.

University of the south pacific marine research fellow, Dr. Brian Stockwell said the sea lion might have been of New Zealand or Australian species as it was the closest place the sea lion could travel from.

He said due to the strong south winds experienced lately, the sea lion may have swum across while chasing fish.

“I urge and request people not to harass, not to touch it and leave it alone.”

“A sea lion cannot survive in tropical climate countries such as Fiji during summer and it would swim across to the south for colder climate,” Dr. Stockwell said.

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