A little penguin coming to shore on the Otago Peninsula got more than it bargained for when a playful sea lion decided to chase it.
A video of the chase was posted to the Blue Penguins Pukekura Facebook page on Tuesday, showing a lone penguin running away from a sea lion at Pilots Beach while other penguins come ashore as a group further down the beach.
Blue Penguins Pukekura operations manager Lyndon Perriman said it was not a common occurrence, but sea lions were known to play chase sometimes.
Sea lions could eat penguins, but it was rare and the chase caught on camera was purely play.
Penguins usually approached the beach in groups, even three or four was enough to confuse sea lions and any other potential predators, and prevent a chase.
The lone penguin escaped the chase and the sea lion soon lost interest and swam away.
