The New Zealand Sea Lion Trust says there is a difference between being attacked by a sea lion and being challenged by one.
Trust acting chairman Stephen Broni said it was not unreasonable for people entering a predatory animal's territory to be challenged.
The trust was responding to calls for action to be taken against sea lions, which have been spotted by surfers and swimmers on beaches, and in Otago coastal waters.
Mr Broni said he had kayaked regularly and often encountered sea lions.
They investigated new objects with their mouths the way humans would with their hands. ‘‘They will ‘play bite' with my paddle [and] rudder and leap and splash alongside. I have never had them charge my kayak, or bump it in any threatening way,'' he said.
If the sea lion was left to explore, it would soon move off, providing a memorable encounter with one of our native treasures, he said.
He said challenged would be a more accurate description than being attacked by sea lions.
‘‘When entering the realm of a predatory animal, it is not unreasonable to expect to be challenged.
‘‘If those who wanted action against the sea lions went overseas, would they be knocking on the door of wildlife services asking them to do something to get rid of their sharks and fur seals?'
He said a ‘‘tragic accident waiting to happen'' was highly unlikely if surfers and the public learnt to behave appropriately around sea lions.
Feeding sea lions from boats only encouraged the animals to approach humans in the water, hoping for a meal. The real tragedy would be to make these majestic marine animals into the monsters they were not.
Mr Broni said the concern had started from a study revealing yellow-eyed penguins were being eaten by sea lions.
But all that showed was one female sea lion had developed a taste for the occasional yellow-eyed penguin.
It was estimated that sea lion took two yellow-eyed penguins during a five-month diet study.
The study further concluded the yellow eyed penguin population on the Otago Peninsula was not at risk from that level of predation though one specific breeding site might be at risk.
Sea lions have been seen taking blue penguins off Pilots Beach as well, but studies of scat and regurgitations show penguins are not often taken.
The trust was monitoring the situation closely in association with the Depart ment of Conservation and the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust.
It was worth remembering sea lions and penguins co-existed on the Otago Peninsula before the arrival of humans and that intro duced predators killed far more penguins than sea lions, Mr Broni said.
