Press release from the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo:
Two new sea lions make a splash at the Zoo
(July 1, 2010) – The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo’s Sea Lion Beach has two young new residents! Female sea lions Legend, age two, and Cassandra, age one, joined nine-year-old half-sisters Fishbone and Grits in the exhibit this week.
“We’re so glad to have all four girls together,” says Central Zoo Area Manager Shelley Scherer. “So far they seem to be getting along just great.”
Legend and Cassandra came to the zoo from Sea World Orlando, where they were born. Scherer and another zoo keeper made the 22-hour drive from Florida with the two sea lions crated in the back of the van.
Cassandra is easy to spot – she’s the tiniest sea lion, weighing about 80 pounds. Legend weighs about 140 pounds, while Fishbone and Grits each weigh about 220 pounds.
Keepers plan to integrate Legend and Cassandra into the zoo’s popular daily Sea Lion Feeding shows beginning this weekend. The youngsters know only a few behaviors right now, but sea lions are fast learners. Sea Lion Feeding shows take place at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily at Sea Lion Beach.
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is one of the area’s major attractions, drawing more than 600,000 visitors every year. The zoo was recently named one of the country’s “Top Ten Zoos for Kids” by Parents Magazine.
The zoo is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until October 10. Admission is $13 for adults, $8 for children age 2-14, and $10 for seniors over age 60. Babies age 1 and under and Zoo Society Members are admitted free. website