Sea Lion Landing

In the early 2000s, Riverbanks Zoo was faced with a challenging dilemma: the deteriorating condition of its most popular animal display – the sea lion exhibit. The sea lion exhibit was one of the few remaining original exhibits from the Zoo’s 1974 opening, and remained consistently ranked by guests as its single most popular exhibit as well. But decades later the exhibit had issues with water quality, structural maintenance, and animal safety. The Zoo took the bold step of proposing an entirely new seal and sea lion exhibit as the centerpiece of its next general bond issue.

This dynamic habitat not only meets all USDA and AZA standards, but also showcases state-of-the-art features including the creation of a saltwater environment; excellent water filtration and turnover rate; larger and improved holding areas with a pupping pool; fantastic underwater observation opportunities from varying viewpoints that dramatically improve the guest experience; scheduled presentations with shaded seating, naturalistic shade structures; and pool surfaces designed to reduce reflected light.