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This little girl’s new best friend is a very concerned sea lion

Just a quick time-out.

Photo of Miles Klee

Miles Klee

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The question of empathy in animals is a hotly debated one, though there won’t be much doubt in your mind after you see this sea lion interact with a pint-sized fan at the National Zoo.

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Separated only by a wall of glass, the slippery swimmer and toddling tyke chase each other back and forth in a game of tag until the latter takes an unfortunate misstep, tumbling to the floor. The attentive animal stops on a dime and cocks its head as if to say, “Whoa, you OK?”

We assume, barring any tears, that play resumed shortly after.

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Photo via Alejandro Hernandez./Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

 
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