Miller Park Zoo sea lion finds new home
Bloomington zoo to welcome new harbor
seals after sea lion departs for Louisville Zoo
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[March 26, 2013]
BLOOMINGTON -- Miller Park Zoo's
9-year-old female California sea lion, Gremlin, will depart for a
new home at Kentucky's Louisville Zoo on April 2. Gremlin came to
Bloomington from Sea World in Orlando, Fla., in 2004. Miller Park
Zoo will have special going-away activities for Gremlin up until her
departure, including a going-away card for guests to sign. A few
weeks after Gremlin's departure for her new home, Miller Park Zoo
will welcome two harbor seals.
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Gremlin's new home will be in the Louisville Zoo's Glacier Run
exhibit, a 108,000-gallon salt water habitat for seals and sea
lions, and will provide the opportunity for her to interact with
other animals. Sea lions are social creatures, and Gremlin has been
alone since her exhibit mate died in May 2011. No other sea lions
have been available to join Gremlin at Miller Park Zoo since then.
While it is hard for zoo staff to see her leave, Miller Park Zoo is
committed to providing the best animal care possible and knows the
Louisville Zoo will be able to provide Gremlin with a bigger habitat
and opportunities for socialization with other sea lions.
"We are sad to see Gremlin go, but it is her best interest that
we have in mind. We are excited to work with the two harbor seals
when they arrive," said Jay Tetzloff, Miller Park Zoo
superintendent.
"We are very happy that Gremlin is coming to join our family of
sea lions at the Louisville Zoo," reported Steve Wing, general
curator at the Louisville Zoo. "The Glacier Run habitat was awarded
top honors by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2012 and is
home to Bart, Triton, Patches, Kahula and harbor seal Toney. She has
lots of new friends waiting to meet her!"
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Gremlin's habitat will only be empty for a couple of weeks for
maintenance and repair, leading up to the arrival of two new
1-year-old harbor seals, Kash and McGraw, who will occupy that
exhibit space. The zoo last displayed harbor seals, which are
smaller than sea lions but just as playful and charismatic, in 2003.
Kash |
McGraw |
A new sea lion and seal exhibit is among the first projects
planned for the initial phase of implementation of the Miller Park
Zoo Master Plan. The new, larger exhibit will include underwater
viewing and amphitheater-style seating for animal demonstrations.
[Text from
Miller Park Zoo
news release received from
Bloomington Parks & Recreation]
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