Two California sea lions that moved to the New England Aquarium from Birmingham, AL, are adjusting to life in Boston as they develop relationships with their new trainers. After a closure of Birmingham’s sea lion habitat, Farley and Giovanni were rehomed with cooperation of the New England Aquarium and The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) California Sea Lion Species Survival Plan!
The two sealions are now a permanent part of Boston’s New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center located at the New England Aquarium. Farley and Giovanni now extend the NEAQ sea lion community to five! They join Zoe, Sierra, and Tipper. Kristen McMahon, Curator of Pinnipeds and Penguins at the aquarium notes:
We are very excited for the addition of a male sea lion and an additional female sea lion. Farley and Gio are at the perfect age to socialize with our resident sea lions, and we feel that this will not only be very enriching for all five of the sea lions but also align with our goal of providing the highest level of care for our animals.
The two California sea lions traveled to Boston on a FedEx flight back in June, accompanied by their trainers and an aquarium veterinarian. Farley is outnumbered 4:1, as he is the only male of the group of the aquarium’s five sea lions. Steps are being taken to acclimate all of the sealions to one another and their new habitat.
Farley and Gio were rescued on California beaches in 2009 after being found stranded and deemed unable to return to their natural habitat by the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California. The aquarium notes “all of the California sea lions at the Aquarium are rescued animals that were unable to return to the ocean.”