The Denver Zoo announced the arrival of a new, adorable California sea lion pup in June 2015—it is the first sea lion to be born at the zoo. The little guy is only a few weeks old and spends his day swimming in the Northern Shores exhibit with his mother Luci. The pup will nurse for about a year before moving on to a diet of fish. He only weighs 20 pounds now, but adult male sea lions reach an average weight between 500 to 800 pounds!
About Californian Sea Lions
Californian sea lions are native to western North America. They normally are found along the coast on sandy or rock beaches from the southern part of Alaska down to the central part of Mexico. Their diet consists of fish and squid. Sea lions are preyed on by killer whales and white sharks.
Sea lions are very intelligent, because of this they are often trained to perform various tasks at zoos, circuses, and aquariums. Their bodies are streamlined, which reduces drag underwater, and sea lions use their fore flippers to propel through water at speeds of 6.7 mph. Sea lions can hold their breath for up to 3 minutes and dive to depths of 260ft. They also use their whiskers to detect vibrations underwater.
About the Denver Zoo
The Denver Zoo is located in Denver, Colorado and was founded in 1896. It is home to more than 4,000 animals in exhibits arranged across 80 acres. In, 1918 the Denver Zoo became the first zoo in the United States to adopt Carl Hagenbeck’s concept of natural habitats where animals lived in spaces that were not blocked in using bars or fences—this also enabled visitors to see animals at eye level. The zoo has received multiple awards for excellence in animal care, sustainability, and reduction of environmental impact. More than 1.6 million visitors come to the zoo each year.
