Right now, escalating pressures are putting these pups at serious risk.

Extreme heat is becoming deadly. Pups remain on land for up to five months, exposed to rising temperatures that can push mortality rates in some colonies to around 40%. Without shade, dehydration and heat stress can quickly become fatal.

Marine debris and fishing gear continue to threaten young sea lions. When a pup becomes entangled, the situation can deteriorate within minutes. Rescue teams must reach remote islands quickly. This is something only possible with a dedicated conservation vessel already on station.

And now, the emergence of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) which has devastated seal and sea lion colonies throughout the world, looms as yet another threat to a vulnerable population.

But there is hope. We must do all we can to ensure pups are in the best possible condition to thrive. And direct intervention can turn the tide.

The Great Australian Bight is one of the most extraordinary marine ecosystems on Earth. For the past 10 years, Sea Shepherd has been on the front lines defending this remote wilderness, successfully helping stop offshore drilling, removing tonnes of marine debris, and rescuing marine mammals trapped in discarded fishing gear. These victories happened because people like you chose to take action.

Today, the Endangered Australian sea lions that call the Great Australian Bight home face growing threats to their survival from rising temperatures and food scarcity to fishing gear entanglement, pollution, and disease. With only about 12,000 Australian sea lions left in the world, every individual sea lion is precious.

Sea Shepherd Australia is on the front lines protecting these vulnerable animals. Our vessel, Southern Defender, is the only conservation vessel permanently operating in the region.

On board, our Threatened Species Researcher Dirk Holman, together with our partners, have the expertise to act where it matters most, installing shelters that protect pups from extreme heat, restoring vegetation on remote islands to create natural shade, and responding rapidly when sea lions become entangled.

But this vital work depends on the support of people who care about the ocean.

Your support today will fund real, direct action that gives Australian sea lion pups a genuine chance to survive.

Your gift can help make an immediate difference:

$35 will help keep the Southern Defender on the water, a frontline responder to marine mammal emergencies in the Great Australian Bight.

$70 will help raise sea lion pup shelters to give vulnerable pups immediate relief and help them survive to their first swim.

$140 will help rescue entangled marine mammals through rapid response interventions. Imagine a future where every Australian sea lion pup survives long enough to make its first swim.

A future where these young animals are protected from blistering heat and rescued quickly when in danger. That future is possible. But we need the resources to act now.

Please consider donating $35, $70, $140 or any amount you can. Community support powers Sea Shepherd’s direct-action conservation work, and your gift will be put to work immediately protecting Australian sea lions.

With the species on the brink, swift and targeted action is critical. Your support will help ensure that the next generation of Australian sea lions survives and that this extraordinary species continues to thrive in the waters of the Great Australian Bight.

Thank you for standing with Sea Shepherd Australia.