Moody Gardens Welcomes Sam the California Sea Lion to Join the Aquarium Pyramid

Contact Information

Courtney Carr, 409-683-4209

Cell: 409-370-4585

Jerri Hamachek, 409-683-4249

Cell: 409-789-2607

MOODY GARDENS WELCOMES SAM THE CALIFORNIA SEA LION TO JOIN THE AQUARIUM PYRAMID

GALVESTON, Texas – Moody Gardens is welcoming its latest addition to the North Pacific Exhibit as Sam the California sea lion settles into his new home with his new aquatic friends at the Aquarium Pyramid.

Introductions have begun this week in the North Pacific Exhibit between the seals and sea lions as it will take some time for Sam to get acclimated to his new environment. Sea lions, Dino and Squirt and
Porter, the harbor seal, are quite intrigued with their new friend and biologists will be monitoring them closely to see how their chemistry builds. As an Association of Zoos & Aquariumsfacility, cooperation and assistance among accredited aquariums andzoos is a cornerstone of the collaborative community which is why Moody Gardens staff is excited about the new opportunity with the Utica Zoo.

“Getting Sam was a great opportunity to add to the North Pacific Exhibit,” said Diane Olsen, Assistant Curator of Seals and Penguins, who discussed the anticipation of his arrival. “Utica Zoo was expecting a new pup and needed to move Sam and we were able to help by providing him a home.”

There is a historical connection between Moody Gardens and Sam, as he is the son of the Audubon Zoo’s former sea lion, Porter. Porter was one of five sea lions to temporarily reside at Moody Gardens after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

California sea lions are usually found on islands off of Southern California and Baja California in Mexico, up theU.S. West Coast to Vancouver Island, Canada. Spending his entire young life at the Utica Zoo, Sam will be joining a very fascinating group of mammals. Squirt, a rescued blind sea lion who was found off of the Santa Barbara shore, Porter, a harbor seal who was also rescued off of the coast of Maine after being abandoned and Dino, theover 800-pound California sea lion who was acquired from the Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo back in 2010. As Dino entersinto his senior years, Sam is expected to be a social and activeaddition for the other seals and sea lion in the exhibit.

Guests can see Sam in his new habitat at the Aquarium Pyramid, but also on the live seal cam at is available 24 hours a day seven days a week.

For more information please visit moodygardens.org or call 800-582-4673.

Moody Gardens® is a public, non-profit, educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research.

###