A new web-based portal is giving budding citizen scientists the chance to help save South Australia’s endangered Australian sea lions, from the comfort of their own homes. 

Developed by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Eyre and Far West district, in partnership with Phillip Island Nature Parks, the ‘Sea lion Spotter’ app has been built to help researchers learn more about South Australia’s Australian endangered sea lion populations and the reasons behind their ongoing decline. 

NPWS Marine Park Ranger Dirk Holman, who recently starred in the iMax film Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker, says the easy-to-use web portal gives everyone the opportunity to play their part by remotely participating in population surveys of sea lion colonies off South Australia’s west coast. 

“When people help us count sea lion pups using Sea lion Spotter, they are directly contributing to the scientific communities’ understanding of Australia’s largest endangered sea lion colony,” he says. 

“Tracking populations is a time-consuming task for rangers, so by having citizen scientists gather data on populations, and tracking the birth of new pups, we’ll have information more rapidly analysed to help monitor the health of the colonies. 

“Many of the world’s sea lion populations were nearly hunted to extinction during the nineteenth century. 

“While some species of seals and sea lions have shown signs of recovery in recent decades, the same can’t be said of the Australian sea lion. 

“Australian sea lions are one of the rarest seal species in the world, with 80 percent living in South Australian waters. 

“We’re hoping that, along with providing data on population numbers, Sea lion Spotter will act as a catalyst for conversations in the community about what we need to do to ensure their survival for future generations.” 

Mr Holman said citizen scientists using the app will also have access to latest information on emerging research and technologies used to monitor sea lion colonies. 

“Users will have the opportunity to delve into new and interesting information about the endangered Australian sea lion’s biology, food chain and habitat health,” he said. 

“Lots of people have a strong affinity with seals and sea lions. 

“In fact, they’re one of the key reasons why many people visit South Australian tourism destination like Port Lincoln, the far west coast and Kangaroo Island. 

“We hope the portal creates a greater appreciation of our unique marine ecosystems.”

In December 2020, the Australian sea lion was up-listed from vulnerable to endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. 

Learn more about the project and join in on the Environment SA website.