News Release

Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org

June 28, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

California Sea Lion Pup Born at Brookfield Zoo

Brookfield, Ill. – In a few weeks, guests visiting Brookfield Zoo’s Pinniped Point will be able to see one of the newest additions—a California sea lion pup. Since his birth on June 10, the male pup (not yet named) and his mom, 9-year-old Josephine, have been bonding behind the scenes. They are expected to have access to their outdoor habitat by mid-July.

In addition to bonding, Josephine is also teaching her pup to swim. Animal care staff installed a temporary false floor making their pool shallow. As the pup becomes more agile and proficient at swimming, the floor will be lowered to increase the pool’s depth.

California sea lion pups weigh between 13 to 20 pounds at birth, and typically are born in the months of June and July. For the first few weeks of life, they stay in tidal pools until they are able to swim and can go to sea with their mothers. They nurse for at least five months and sometimes for more than a year. In the wild, after giving birth, mother sea lions will leave their offspring for a short time while they forage at sea. As the pups grow stronger, the mothers leave them alone for longer periods. Mother sea lions recognize their pups through smell, sight, and vocalizations.

This is Josephine’s second pup. Her first, named Lucy was born in 2017. She still resides at Brookfield Zoo along with another 2-year-old named Taylor, who is the new pup’s half-brother. Josephine, and the sire, 16-year-old Tanner, are both wild-born and very important to the species genetic diversity in the accredited North American zoo population. Josephine, was abandoned by her mom on Pier 39 in San Francisco—a popular tourist attraction—and would not have survived without human intervention. The Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) stepped forward and offered to give her a home at Brookfield Zoo, where she was hand-reared and has resided since 2010.

In 2012, Tanner arrived at Brookfield Zoo from Shedd Aquarium, where he first received a second chance at life after NOAA Fisheries officials removed him from the wild for feeding on a federally protected endangered species of salmon in the Bonneville Dam area on the Columbia River. In order to identify him should he return to the dam to feed again on the endangered salmon, government officials gave him the distinguishing and permanent ID on his back, “C011.” Despite several attempts to relocate him to another area, Tanner continued to return to the dam.

The pairing of Josephine and Tanner was based on a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ California Sea Lion Species Survival Plan (SSP). The program manages the breeding of sea lions in North American accredited zoos to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable. Mairim Martinez, a senior animal care specialist for CZS, is the coordinator of this plan and manages the studbook for the species. In these roles, she is responsible for documenting the pedigree and demographic history of each individual California sea lion at each institution and assists in making breeding recommendations. The Chicago Zoological Society is also an accredited member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.

Although not threatened in their natural habitat along the west coast of North America from Vancouver Island in British Columbia, to the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico, California sea lions still face challenges. Threats include entanglement in fishing gear, toxins they ingest from their prey, intentional dumping of toxic and hazardous waste, and changes in global atmosphere pressure that affects the availability of prey. Today, the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act protects all marine mammals, including California sea lions.

Those interested in helping care for the California sea lions at Brookfield Zoo can contribute to the Animal Adoption program. For $35, the recipient will receive the Basic Package, which includes a 5-inch x 7-inch color photograph and fact sheet about the species, a personalized adoption certificate, an Animal Adoption car decal, and an invitation to the annual Animal Adoption Evening. For further information, visit CZS.org/AnimalAdoption.

Brookfield Zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield. Admission to the zoo is $21.95 for adults and $15.95 for children 3 to 11 and seniors 65 and over. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Parking is $14.

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About the Chicago Zoological Society

The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by engaging people and communities with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Its Center for the Science of Animal Care and Welfare is at the forefront of animal care that strives to discover and implement innovative approaches to zoo animal management. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. Open every day of the year, the zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and also is accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.

Photo Captions—credit Jim Schulz/Chicago Zoological Society

3057 and 9572: A male California sea lion pup born at Brookfield Zoo on June 10 with his mom, 9-year-old Josie. The two are currently behind the scenes bonding. They are expected to have access to their outdoor habitat by mid-July.

9376, 9415, and 9569: A California sea lion pup born at Brookfield Zoo. Born on June 10, the male pup is currently behind the scenes bonding with his mom and learning how to swim.