If you live in New York City, then you can visit California Sea Lions at the Bronx Zoo, the Central Park Zoo, or the New York Aquarium at Coney Island. At the Central Park Zoo you can observe sea lions’ feeding, and zookeepers demonstrate how they check the sea lions’ bodies, teeth, and vision. It’s a great opportunity to watch these beautiful animals in action.

California Sea Lions are perhaps the most social marine animals in the sea. These creatures live in groups called harems, which consist of the dominant male (the bull) who is in charge of the females (the cows). California Sea Lions eat mostly fish, squid, and octopus. Sea lions are mammals so they breathe air and blow bubbles through their nose when they’re underwater. They can reduce their heart rate when they dive into the water to conserve oxygen.

California Sea Lions are famous for their intelligence, playfulness, and barking. They range from chocolate brown (males) to golden brown (females). They can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. They have dog-like faces and resemble seals. What sets sea lions apart from seals is that sea lions have tiny flaps over their ears.

The California Sea Lion is found on the North American Coast. They also can be found from Vancouver Island, British Colombia, down to the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico. Their population is growing steadily. Protection in the twentieth century allowed the sea lion population to increase after extensive hunting for their skin and oil in the nineteenth century. Seal lions mainly breed offshore. Females give birth to one pup a year. These baby sea lions reach adult size by age nine and can live up to their thirties.

Sea Lions love jumping out of the water, presumably to speed up their swimming. They produce loud roars, hence the name sea lion, and are adapted for movement on land and water. You’ll be amazed at how agile and flexible the Central Park Zoo’s sea lions can be. I watched one bend her neck back so far she almost touched her spine.