Birmingham Zoo options shutdown of Sea Lion Habitat
For nearly 5 a long time, guests to the Birmingham Zoo have liked seeing California sea lions splashing in their pool at the Sea Lion Habitat.
Sea lions Farley and Gio have been zoo favorites, entertaining households with their acrobatic antics.
The Birmingham Zoo introduced today that the California sea lions, Farley and Giovanni (Gio), will be moved to the New England Aquarium in Boston later this spring. That will mark the long term closure of the Zoo’s Sea Lion Habitat, which is in need of severe repairs and is no for a longer period in compliance with finest techniques for sea lion care.
The zoo is performing on a “sea lion” mail-off that will be announced in the coming weeks, to give visitors a likelihood to say goodbye.
The Birmingham Zoo does not have any present-day plans to develop a new sea lion habitat.
The Sea Lions are becoming moved in cooperation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the California Sea Lion Species Survival Program.
Farley and Gio have been born in 2008, and were rescued in 2009 by the Marine Mammal Heart in Sausalito, California.
The Birmingham Zoo joins other zoos and aquariums all over the entire world in taking part in species survival ideas that handle animal populations in zoos and relevant services, like providing benchmarks for care, health and well-becoming.
“While we are incredibly unhappy to see them go, we are psyched about this excellent opportunity for them,” said Birmingham Zoo Common Curator Mollye Nardi.
Created in 1974 as a result of generous donations from Parisian Stores and the Alabama Zoological Modern society, the California sea lion habitat is now out of date.
“Renovations to this habitat are not possible and the only option would be to develop a new facility which can’t materialize shortly sufficient to deal with the present-day challenges,” reported Birmingham Zoo Deputy Director Hollie Colahan.
“Our remarkable staff members cares deeply for these animals and has been focused to providing them with excellent care even with the several difficulties posed by their out-of-date habitat,” reported Scott Kayser, Zoological Supervisor of Predators.
Sea lions are social animals and stay in colonies in the wild.
The New England Aquarium has a greater habitat and their own resident sea lions.
“When we reached out to the California Sea Lion SSP to spot Gio and Farley, we hoped that they could stay together and go to a best-high-quality facility,” Colahan said. “We are thrilled that both equally of these requests were fulfilled, and they will be housed with other sea lions and cared for by an skilled crew at one more AZA-accredited facility.”
A sea lion leaps from the water at the Birmingham Zoo. (Courtesy of the Birmingham Zoo)
Colahan stated sea lions are a favored of not just friends but personnel. “Sending them absent is a hard selection for us but we believe that that each individual animal in the zoo justifies the finest life probable, even when that everyday living is somewhere else.”
Farley and Gio will be signing up for three woman California sea lions at the New England Aquarium: 12-12 months-olds Sierra and Zoey and 10-calendar year-outdated Tipper, all rescued animals who could not be launched and ended up provided a for good residence in the New Stability Basis Marine Mammal Center.
“We are really fired up for the addition of a male sea lion and an additional feminine sea lion,” explained Kristen Van Oss, Curator of Pinnipeds and Penguins at the New England Aquarium. “Farley and Gio are at the excellent age to socialize with our resident sea lions, and we experience that this will not only be quite enriching for all 5 of the animals but also align with our objective of delivering the maximum level of animal welfare for the animals in our care.”
Birmingham Zoo Workers are performing pretty carefully with the New England Aquarium to be certain a smooth and profitable transition for Gio and Farley.
“It has been a pleasure collaborating with the crew at the Birmingham Zoo and employing our ordeals to set up for a risk-free changeover and acclimation of the animals from their facility to ours,” Van Oss reported.
See also: Female lion at Birmingham Zoo dies just after attack by new male lion
California Sea Lions, regarded for their pouty faces and acrobatic antics, will be leaving the Birmingham Zoo this spring. (Courtesy of the Birmingham Zoo)
