Baby Sea Lion Climbs On Board And Cuddles With Boater

A boater in California experienced a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a baby sea lion that he called a “life changing experience.”

J.R. Gilkinson was about two miles off the coast of Newport Beach in California when he spotted the sea lion pup swimming near his boat.

In a video on YouTube, Gilkinson said the pup “looked tired” and it ended up climbing up onto his boat!

That alone is more than most people get to experience, but the sea lion pup took things a step further and decides to get friendly with Gilkinson.

The boater described the pup as “trusting” and in the video, you can see just how trusting the little guy is! The sea lion actually approached Gilkinson and cuddled up on his lap for some pets!

It’s so precious and something that Gilkinson recalls as a “life changing experience” and a day he will “never forget.”

The sea lion pup ended up staying aboard the boat for over an hour and didn’t hop off until the boat sailed into the harbor. What an incredible day at sea!

“One of the BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE,” Gilkinson wrote on YouTube.

Check out the video below:

How awesome is that?