Seals and Sea Lions
Welcome Harbor Seal Pup!
A harbor seal pup was born on April 13, 2011. BioPark guests selected the name "Ariel" for the pup. She is now swimming in the main pool.
- Read about Ariel's birth and first few months.
- Read about Ariel's introduction to the adult pool in July.
- View pictures of the seal pup.
Activities
Slipping and swirling through the water, the Zoo's seals and sea lions are always fun to visit.
Built for a life in water, these marine mammals are pinnipeds, which means "fin-footed."
At the Seals and Sea Lions Exhibit, you can watch three species of pinnipeds--sea lions, gray seals and harbor seals--from above or from underwater.
Is it a seal or a sea lion?
You can figure it out using these three questions:
1) Does it have ears?
2) How does it swim?
3) How does it move on land?
True or Earless Seals have no visible ears. They descended from an otter-like ancestor. In the water, they propel with their hind flippers and move side-to-side. On land, they trail their hind flippers and pull with their front flippers.
Sea Lions and Fur Seals have small ears. They descended from a bear-like ancestor. In water, they swim using strong wing-like front flippers. On land, they tuck their hind flippers beneath them like sitting dogs.
