Mane sea lions, typical of the shores of southern Latin America, have been seen taking advantage of the confinement imposed on humans by the coronavirus to make themselves comfortable in the seaside resort of Mar del Plata, on the west coast of Argentina . These "sea lions", which holidaymakers are used to observing on the coast of this large city of 750,000 inhabitants, take advantage of this unique situation to frolic a little further than usual
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"Because of the confinement, there is no one circulating, so the sea lions venture a little further than usual to shelter from the wind", explains Juan Lorenzani, president of the Fauna Argentina Foundation .
Argentina confined since March 20
Accustomed to the effervescence of a city which welcomes thousands of tourists all year round, these wild mammals have been enjoying an unprecedented silence since March 20, the date of the start of compulsory confinement for the 44 million Argentines.
"These animals weigh between 350 and 500 kilos for the largest," recalls Juan Lorenzani, who points out that they "have the capacity to thermoregulate their temperature". "As a function of time, they seek to shelter themselves from the wind," added the scientist.
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"It's unusual," admits Jorge Barcio, a resident interviewed on the street as he goes shopping. "The animals are taking advantage of the situation to find a little more comfort," he says.