Event Details
The Essex County Turtle Back Zoo is excited to announce that we will be celebrating the 28th and 6th birthdays of our two male California Sea Lions, JR and Dyson the weekend of June 16th & 17th.
How do they wish to celebrate their birthday? With you all of course!
Zoo guests are invited to the party which will include meeting keepers, information tables, activities and animal art.
The special event will occur from 11am – 3pm and will coincide with the scheduled sea lion shows (daily at 11:30am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm).
EVENT DETAILS
11:30 am Sea Lion Show followed by “Presents” AKA enrichment
1:00 pm Sea Lion Show followed by Fish and Ice Cakes
3:00 pm Sea Lion Show followed by Animal Art Painting
A main threat to California sea lions is food shortage caused in part by overfishing. To meet the high demand for seafood, many commercial fisheries use methods to catch more fish than the remaining populations can recover naturally. Destructive fishing and farming practices take a toll on other marine animals that depend upon these fish for food. You can help by purchasing sustainable seafood – fish and shellfish species caught using responsible methods to ensure the stability of fish stocks and their ecosystems. Our sea lions consume sustainable seafood and so can you! Learn more about Seafood Watch HERE.
Want to do more? Help us help the organizations that are in the field performing rescues, facilitating rehabilitation and working towards release of marine mammals and other marine life. Over the past several years, sea lions have been stranding at an alarming rate. Emaciated, dehydrated, sick, and injured sea lion pups have been washing ashore by the thousands due to changing ocean climates and availability of prey. Stranding centers along the California coast have been inundated with patients and have exhausted a great deal of their supplies and funds. This is why they need our help! A donation will help purchase supplies, medication and food for PMMC’s patients. A gift of even $1 will help purchase a pound of fish, so no donation is too small!
DONATE
Dyson stranded as a pup and was deemed non-releasable and given a permanent home here at Turtle Back Zoo. Pacific Marine Mammal Center (pacificmmc.org), a non-profit organization, rescues, rehabilitates and releases marine mammals and inspires stewardship through research, education and collaboration.