Sea lions wearing video-camera backpacks are helping scientists map uncharted regions of the seafloor. They found the ocean bed teeming with life.

Eight Australian sea lions were fitted with cameras and trackers to capture unprecedented insights into their behaviour and the marine habitats where they hunt

What lies deep beneath ocean surfaces is often a mystery. In Australia, many underwater habitats have not been mapped, and researchers know little about them. Now, scientists are working to change that by employing sea lions as videographers.

The footage the sea lions captured also revealed “awe-inspiring” scenes, Australian researchers said, like sea lions flipping over rocks to catch octopus.

Using cameras and trackers attached to Australian sea lions, we explored previously unmapped ocean habitats off the South Australian coast. The data also fed into predictive computer models.

Scientists have a new ally helping them explore the ocean’s seabeds–sea lions. A team in Australia recruited endangered Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) to carry video cameras down to this little explored region of the ocean.

Scientists attached cameras and sensors to small pieces of neoprene that they glued to the sea lions’ backs. Credit: Nathan Angelakis. Footage captured by sea lions wearing ligh