Featured Image Credit: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has recently announced that seven California sea lions will be getting a brand new and extremely fabulous home in 2019! These efforts wouldn’t have been possible without generous donations made to the park.
Currently, the seven resident sea lions are enjoying life at their temporary home in Florida while they anxiously await the opening of their new home at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
“We are excited about this new habitat because sea lions are very social and physical animals; we know our visitors will enjoy and learn from them,” said president and CEO Tom Stalf. “Once the habitat opens in 2019, Columbus Zoo animal trainers will show guests how they work with the sea lions to keep the animals healthy, and explain how guests can help protect sea lions – even here from Ohio.”
Even though the sea lions who will call the new habitat home were born in different parks from all over the world, they have all lived together for about 10 years at Changfeng Ocean World in China.
“Animal care is our first priority at the Columbus Zoo. That’s why we have two staff members living full-time with the sea lions while they are in their interim home in Florida,” said Stalf. “It’s also why we are designing the habitat here in Central Ohio with the animals’ needs first.”
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was very adamant on building this facility because they wanted to further their commitment to sea lion rehabilitation efforts led by organizations like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
While California sea lions are not a species of concern, there is a rising number of pup strandings due to climate change. It causes the mothers to hunt further away from shore, where they leave their pups, and sometimes they don’t make it back. This leaves the pups orphaned and unable to care for themselves. That’s where the Marine Mammal Center steps in.
In years past, the zoo has provided financial support for rescue and rehabilitation efforts led by the Marine Mammal Center (MMC) in Sausalito, California. Three veterinarians from the zoo have each spent a month aiding the MMC with the stranded and injured marine mammals. They have been working tirelessly to nurse them back to health while expanding their knowledge of sea lions and seals. For that, we commend you, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium!