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Visit
the Smithsonian's Marine Science Network.
Seals and Sea Lions Exhibit
The National Zoo is building a wonderful new exhibit for its seals and sea lions. Not only are we creating a better home for our marine mammals but we're also creating a multi-sensory experience with great animal viewing opportunities for visitors. The current seal and sea lion exhibit, and nearby area that includes Mexican wolves, beavers, river otter, and bald eagles, closed to the public on November 30.
Animal Moves
The Zoo's Beaver Valley, home to several North American mammals and birds, has closed for construction of Elephant Trails and construction of a wonderful new exhibit for seals and sea lions. Part of Beaver Valley will reopen in 2010. Until then, the following animals will not be on exhibit at the Zoo: beavers, river otters, gray seals, California sea lions, Mexican wolves, bald eagles, and brown pelicans. Additionally, our Andean bears will be viewable on weekends only during the construction period. While we don't know when exactly visitor access to the beaver, otter, and eagle exhibits will be restored, we will do our best to keep this page up to date so people can plan accordingly. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Learn about the new exhibit and take a virtual tour.
There are two species of pinnipeds at the National
Zoo: California sea lions and gray seals. You can see
them in their pools in the outdoor Seals and Sea Lion Exhibit or on the rocks in their
ocean-like habitat. The Sea Lion Exhibit is also home to brown pelicans (they are currently in their winter home at the Zoo and are off exhibit).
Many other North American animals live in Beaver
Valley and can be seen in outdoor exhibits. See a Zoo
map.
California Sea Lions
The Zoo's two young female California sea lions, Calli and Summer, have been temporarily relocated to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium so the National Zoo can build a new exhibit. Learn more
Summer and Calli were rescued in June 2005 on separate beaches in California and raised at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, California.
Summer was abandoned by her mother within hours of giving birth. Calli's mother died soon after giving birth. Because the pups were hand-reared, they have become dependant on, and accustomed to, humans. Summer and Calli came to the Zoo in spring 2006.
Before they left for Pittsburgh, Summer and Calli delighted in playing at the underwater viewing window, and often interacted with the visitors who were watching them. Both pups learned an impressive number of trained behaviors in a short time, and were able to fully participate in the daily training demonstration. They can do many medical and natural behaviors, and love to retrieve objects out of the pool.
Summer is inquisitive, hard-working, and strong-willed, whereas Calli is easy going but cautious about new things. Together, they turn everything into a game, and they quickly became two of our visitors' favorite animals.
Learn about California sea lions.
Gray Seals
The National Zoo has two gray seals: Gunnar, a male,
and Selkie, a female. 
Read about their history of service.
Gunnar
Gunnar was wild-born in Iceland in November 1973,
and donated to the Zoo by the Naval Ocean Systems Center
(NOSC) on January 18, 1979. He is fed about 20 pounds of
fish a day, although this can vary during the year. He is
occasionally separated from Selkie during breeding season
if he is being aggressive.
Gunnar has a roman nose with a pink spot and is larger than Selkie. He averages 450 pounds in the summer and 550 pounds in the winter.
Selkie
Selkie was wild-born in Iceland in November 1973,
and donated to the Zoo by the Naval Ocean Systems
Center (NOSC) on January 18, 1979. She receives eight
pounds of fish a day. Selkie is from the Eastern
population of gray seals and cycles in November and
December.
She was trained to dive to 800 feet as a scout, with a screwdriver held in her flipper, and was learning to insert and turn it when the Navy disbanded the program. She also worked on repetitive dives. The Navy was looking at their application to human dives.
Selkie has an exceptionally pretty face, and clearly marked dappling on her underside. She weighs about 320 pounds.
