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MARINE MAMMALS

seals and sea lions steal the show

MARINE MAMMALS

seals and sea lions steal the show

meet our marine mammals

The Aquarium is home to nine non-releasable and rescued marine mammals. We are proud to provide a second chance at life for these individuals who would not be able to survive on their own out in the ocean. At the Aquarium, you’ll find three different species of pinnipeds, the group of flipper-footed marine mammals that includes seals, sea lions, and walruses.

california sea lions

California sea lions are highly social animals that spend much of their time together. They all have unique personalities; some are dominant, and some are timid, but when one gets excited, they’re all likely to join in (and boy, can they bark!). 

These animals are fast, agile, and athletic, and they can demonstrate impressive high-energy behaviors. You can distinguish them from their fellow pinnipeds, seals, by their solid brown coloring, ear flaps, and large flippers that they can rotate under their bodies, allowing them to walk or even run on land. In the water, sea lions move forward by pulling themselves through the water with their front flippers (like our penguins). 

Zalophus californianus 

  • Diet: Fish, squid, octopus 
  • Range: North American West Coast from British Columbia to the Baja Peninsula 
  • Conservation: MMPA Protected, IUCN Least Concern 

meet our california sea lions

Arie

Partner: N/A

Rescued: August 9, 2009 (final rescue), Marine Mammal Center 

Where: California 

Why: Approaching humans for food 

Arie was rescued and released three times before she was deemed non-releasable. Arie and Kiah came to the Aquarium of Niagara together! 

Copper

Partner: N/A

Born: July 6, 2012, SeaWorld San Antonio

Where: Texas 

Copper is our largest sea lion and loves to interact with people in the windows! 

Isabel

Partner: N/A

Born: June 24, 2014, Marine Mammal Care Center 

Where: California 

Isabel is our smallest sea lion and is very energetic. She’s also Mia’s daughter! 

Mia

Partner: N/A

Rescued: June 17, 2014, Marine Mammal Care Center 

Where: California 

Why: Severely malnourished, suffering from pneumonia and seizures 

Mia surprised everyone at the Marine Mammal Care Center by giving birth to a pup just a week after being rescued! Her daughter, Isabel, also lives at the Aquarium. 

seals

The Aquarium is home to two species of seals, harbor seals and grey seals. These seals are known as “earless” because they don’t have ear flaps like their sea lion cousins.  

You may notice that seals move differently than sea lions. On land, seals look like caterpillars, plopping along in a motion known as “gallumping.” This is because they don’t have rotating hip bones, so they’re unable to tuck their flippers underneath them to walk on all fours. In the water, seals swim by moving their rear flippers from side to side like a fish. 

Unlike social sea lions, seals tend to enjoy their independence, even when they’re in groups. 

Grey Seals vs Harbor Seals  

Can you tell our seals apart based on their species? Stryker and Lumiere are harbor seals, with short, stubby faces. Their fur can be a range of different colors with small, pebble-like spots.  

Della and Medusa are grey seals. They are significantly larger than harbor seals and have long, slender heads (they are actually nicknamed “horsehead seals”). Like their name implies, they are mostly grey with large splotches on their undersides. 

Harbor Seal 

Phoca vitulina 

  • Diet: Fish, shellfish, crustaceans 
  • Range: Northern Coasts of North America, Europe, and Asia 
  • Conservation: MMPA Protected, IUCN Least Concern 
Grey Seal 

Halichoerus grypsus 

  • Diet: Fish, crustaceans 
  • Range: North Atlantic Ocean to the Baltic Sea 
  • Conservation: MMPA Protected, IUCN Least Concern 

meet our harbor seals

Lumiere 

Partner: N/A

Rescued: April 6, 2017, Pacific Marine Mammal Center

Where: California

Why: Dehydrated and malnourished 

Lumiere exhibited abnormal eating behaviors and had difficulty swallowing fish. Since arriving at the Aquarium, he has learned to eat with ease! 

Stryker 

Partner: N/A

Rescued: April 9, 2017, Marine Mammal Stranding Center 

Where: New Jersey 

Why: Struck by a boat that severed his hind flipper 

Stryker’s injury was so severe that his hind flipper had to be amputated. He was deemed non-releasable because he was not able to swim against strong currents. 

meet our grey seals

Della 

Partner: N/A

Rescued: September 4, 1990, Marine Mammal Stranding Center

Where: Delaware

Why: Was not afraid of human interaction and was following ferries, putting her at risk of conflicts with fishermen, entanglement, or boat strikes  

Della is blind from cataracts; she works with her trainers using verbal and tactile cues. 

Medusa 

Partner: N/A

Rescued: March 25, 2016, Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research & Conservation

Where: Long Island

Why: Blind from bilateral cataracts

Note: Medusa is currently residing at Como Park Zoo & Conservancy in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was matched with a male grey seal named Wallace as part of a breeding plan managed through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

SEAL ENCOUNTER

ready to meet a seal?

Step into the seal exhibit for an up-close look at a feeding and training session.

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