Russia’s Kronotsky State Nature Biosphere Reserve reports encouraging growth in the endangered Steller sea lion population. Automated cameras in the reserve and South Kamchatka Sanctuary have documented a steady rise in births, Xinhua reported.

At Kozlov Rock — the species’ only breeding site on Kamchatka’s coast — around 100 pups have been born annually over the past five years, up from the previous average of 80–100 per year. The current population there is estimated at about 400.