"Playing by necessity." Highly commended, Underwater. In the shallow waters of the Archipiélago de Espíritu Santo National Park, Mexico, a young California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) plays with a feather. For young sea lions, a playful nature is a survival strategy. The juveniles do not yet possess the strength and endurance of adults and are unable to accompany them on deep dives or multi-day hunting expeditions. Staying close to the colony, young sea lions hone the skills they will need later in life. Mexico’s sea lions are threatened by fishing gear such as drifting ghost nets, as well as by the impacts of climate change. This makes it all the more important for young animals to grow up healthy and reach adulthood on this protected island group, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.…