First published May 10, 2020.
Joshua Phillips was recently riding aboard a boat on Puget Sound off the coast of Washington when suddenly he spotted something unexpected — a pair of enormous sea lions casually doing the same.
While out for a swim, the enormous marine mammals decided to rest their flippers for a while by borrowing someone's (comparatively small) vessel to lie on top of. The boat, as you will see, was not exactly designed to handle such gigantic passengers.
Although it isn't clear who owns the vessel, or how long the pair hung out there, the unusual sighting puts the animals' giant size into a brand new perspective.
A shocked Phillips captured the scene on camera:
Some sea lion species can reach very large sizes, but this footage does not establish the species or weight of these individuals. One comparison says they can tip the scales at a shocking 2,500 pounds and reach lengths of 11 feet — a fun fact to float your boat, or in that case, nearly sink it.
The boat becomes a reference for scale
A familiar object can make the size of an animal suddenly easier to appreciate. Here, the boat gives the sea lions' bodies an immediate point of comparison, which is why the scene feels so surprising. The comic idea that they have borrowed a vessel is a human caption for an unusual resting place, not evidence of a deliberate prank.
Do not turn a size range into a measurement
The 2020 text's maximum size figures do not establish the weight or species of these particular animals. The camera has recorded their presence, not weighed them. Keeping that distinction clear leaves the image impressive without attaching an unsupported measurement. The unknown owner and duration of the encounter should also remain unknown rather than being filled in to make a more complete-sounding story.
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