Sea lion follows young boy at zoo

By Barney Riley via SWNS

This is the adorable moment a sea lion was seen interacting with a young boy at an aquarium.

Dad Aleksandr Golovin, 47, filmed his seven-year-old son Alex Jr. with the animal at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

The video shows the animal spinning, flipping and pirouetting as the child moves a water bottle along the glass.

The incident came about by complete chance when Alex Jr. randomly noticed the sea lion following his water bottle.

Aleksandr, a crane operator from Richmond, Va., said: "Alex loves sea lions!

"My son was just looking at the sea lion as one does at an exhibit.

"He was holding the water bottle that he was drinking and noticed the sea lion coming closer and following the water bottle, which made him start running around and having the sea lion follow his water bottle.

"Afterwards we were so shocked and amazed it almost looked like the sea lion became friends with Alex."

Fortunately, Alex did not get in trouble for teasing the sea lion with the water bottle and even the people around him were encouraging him.

Aleksander said that this was the best animal interaction he'd ever experienced.

The footage was captured on Oct. 5.