Zalophus dances

"The sea lions (Zalophus californianus) of Isla Espíritu Santo, Mexico live in a world protected by UNESCO Heritage status which is marketed to attract tourists to swim and snorkel in Zalophus habitats. These highly curious and social creatures – both humans and Zalophus – have come to a mutual understanding, and perhaps even share similar behaviours. Males strive to be alpha, engage in confrontations and sound off with guttural utterances, which to onlookers sound unmusically buffoonish.

"After sunning and swimming, adventure-seeking tourists socialise in bars, boisterously dance in clubs and compare their day's experiences, sometimes competitively to impress and attract other tourists. This piece is a series of increasingly enthusiastic narratives and stomps by exuberant tourists uninhibitedly relating their day's watery exploits with Zalophus. Or, it may be Zalophus competitively relating their day's encounter with tourists.

"Behaviour makes the world go 'round.

"The original sounds, recorded on a boat by Erick Luiz Arellano, were an irresistible draw in composing this piece: arfs, barks, grunts, growls and belches are heard in so many land and water mammals, but in this recording they are spectacularly self-assured and are the exclusive source for everything heard in Zalophus Dances."

Sea lions at Isla de Espíritu Santo reimagined by Kevin Malone. 

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This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.

Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage