Miller Park Zoo welcomes new harbor seals
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[April 24, 2013]
BLOOMINGTON -- Miller Park Zoo
welcomed two new harbor seals last week. One-year-old males Kash and
McGraw went on exhibit at the zoo on Thursday. They occupy the space
that used to house Gremlin, a California sea lion who was moved last
month to a new home at Kentucky's Louisville Zoo.
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Kash and McGraw arrived at Miller Park Zoo from Sea World in
Orlando, Fla., on Tuesday. The zoo staff is excited to have the
harbor seals on display after a couple of days of adjustment to
their new home. "Kash and McGraw make a great addition to Miller
Park Zoo, and we hope the community comes out to welcome them to
their new home here," said Jay Tetzloff, Miller Park Zoo
superintendent, "Kash and McGraw are absolutely adorable, playful
and adjusting to their new habitat wonderfully."
The zoo last displayed harbor seals in 2003.
Male harbor seals range from 4.5 to 6.5 feet long and can weigh
up to 375 pounds. Harbor seals love cold water and usually live in
the coastal waters of the North Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.
Zookeepers will be able to tell Kash and McGraw apart by their
distinct coats, which for harbor seals are as unique as human
fingerprints.
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In order to find their food, which usually consists of herring,
flounder and perch, harbor seals rely on their sensitive whiskers,
especially in deep water or at night. They can stay submerged for up
to 30 minutes, and even a 2-day-old pup can stay under water for up
to two minutes.
Zoo guests can watch the zookeepers train the new harbor seals
during demonstrations at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. These
demonstrations are free with paid zoo admission.
[Text from
file received from
Miller Park Zoo] |