Fresno Chaffee Zoo Sea Lion Cove

After years of planning and fund raising, our zoo is finally opening the first new exhibit this Fall: Sea Lion Cove…

They are in the last phase, as the animals have been introduced to their new home and will have a few weeks to adapt before opening to the public…

The following is an article from the Fresno Bee…

Zoo's Sea Lion Cove welcomes its first tenants

The Fresno Bee

Wednesday, Jul. 18, 2012 | 02:44 PM

The first tenants of Fresno Chaffee Zoo's new Sea Lion Cove exhibit moved in Wednesday.

"Ariel," a year-old harbor seal from Albuquerque, N.M., and two rescued California brown pelicans were in their new home -- a 200,000-gallon, 12-foot-deep pool.

The exhibit is set to open to the public on Aug. 27.

The $10.5 million exhibit features rock facings with faux starfish, mussels and barnacles clinging to rock walls with coastal-looking cliffs climbing to 20 feet.

CRAIG KOHLRUSS/THE FRESNO BEE

"Ariel" a year-old harbor seal is seen through the underwater viewing area in the new Sea Lion Cove exhibit at Fresno's Chaffee Zoo on Wednesday.

• Gallery: First tenants at Fresno Chaffee Zoo's Sea Lion Cove

A circular trail leads visitors into the exhibit with amphitheater seating for viewing. The meandering trail stops at a second, elevated viewing area before sinking below ground with underwater views through a 37-foot-long, 8 1/2-foot-high and six-inch-thick glass pane that weighs 11,000 pounds.

The exhibit can fit up to 12 sea lions and seals. The zoo now has three sea lions and one harbor seal in its existing 26,000-gallon pool.

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/18/2913979/zoos-sea-lion-cove-welcomes-its.html#storylink=cpy

The following pictures were taken by the Fresno Chaffee Zoo…

 

The following pictures are my pictures taken of the sea lions/seal old home…

Happy Journaling…