South American sea lions and fur seals

Seals around Chile.

Follow public seal observations from Chile. Browse published records, explore the places and stories behind them, or share an encounter with the Seal Watch team.

Explore seal species →

Total reports
23
Latest observation

Public reports · newest first

Public records archive

5 January 2020—18 September 2026

Reset filters

8 of 23 reports

Loading public records…

Explore by area

All areas

Markers represent broad named areas, never exact observation locations. Select an area to filter the archive.

N ↑Antofagasta · 2 reports1Los Lagos · 3 reports2Valparaíso · 8 reports3

10 reports have an area without a map reference. These reports remain in the archive and its filters.

Map: Natural Earth.

Reports over time

Select a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.

  1. 12020
  2. 12021
  3. 12022
  4. 12023
  5. 12024
  6. 12025
  7. 22026

Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.

  1. Date: 2026
    Place: Valparaíso Region coast Valparaíso
    Reported: Unidentified Gabriela Cartes / iNaturalist

    Observation: South American fur seals were photographed resting on rocks beside the sea on the Valparaíso Region coast. The iNaturalist community identifies the observation as Arctocephalus australis. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/402080851

  2. Date: 2026
    Reported: Unidentified Joaquín Bizama / iNaturalist; Radio Cooperativa

    Observation: Joaquín Bizama photographed a leopard seal resting on the beach in Viña del Mar on 12 September. News coverage places the encounter at Playa del Deporte. The date records this photographic observation; the animal’s first arrival is uncertain. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/399902699

  3. Date: 2025
    Reported: Unidentified iNaturalist — Caio_Preissler (caio_preissler)

    Observation: Caio_Preissler (caio_preissler) recorded this encounter on iNaturalist. Photograph shows sea lions on rocks beneath a waterfront structure. The source’s positional accuracy is about 5.9 km. The source identification is Otaria flavescens. Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/260318712

  4. Date: 2024
    Place: Viña del Mar, Valparaíso Valparaíso
    Reported: Unidentified iNaturalist — Mhairi McFarlane (mhairimcf)

    Observation: Mhairi McFarlane (mhairimcf) recorded this encounter on iNaturalist. Photograph shows a sea lion hauled out on coastal stones. The source identification is Otaria flavescens. Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195703644

  5. Date: 2023
    Reported: Unidentified iNaturalist — rodknee_magiccdonald

    Observation: rodknee_magiccdonald recorded this encounter on iNaturalist. Photograph shows a sea lion on a rock at the water’s edge. The source obscures its location; no exact site is assigned. The source identification is Otaria flavescens. Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145554249

  6. Date: 2022
    Place: Playa Mostazal, Santo Domingo Valparaíso
    Reported: Unidentified Sernapesca

    Observation: Sernapesca reported finding a juvenile male South American sea lion dehydrated and in poor body condition on Playa Mostazal. Source: https://www.sernapesca.cl/noticias/exitosa-reinsercion-de-lobo-marino-juvenil-en-santuario-costero-piedra-del-viento-en-la/

  7. Date: 2021
    Place: Valparaíso waterfront Valparaíso
    Reported: Unidentified iNaturalist — fespinosap

    Observation: fespinosap recorded this encounter on iNaturalist. The observer describes a group on a marine platform; photographs show sea lions on the open waterfront structure. The source identification is Otaria flavescens. Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/67768045

  8. Date: 2020
    Place: Viña del Mar, Valparaíso Valparaíso
    Reported: Unidentified iNaturalist — rick-uhlen

    Observation: rick-uhlen recorded this encounter on iNaturalist. Photograph shows a sea lion hauled out on coastal rocks. The source identification is Otaria flavescens. Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37382738