Mystic Aquarium

In May 2009, the Aquarium welcomed three pups – two females from SeaWorld in San Diego and one male from The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California. Each was approximately nine months old when they arrived at their new home here in Mystic. Come watch them play and learn from our trainers throughout the day.

Jetty, the male sea lion pup, was rescued in Morro Bay Harbor in San Luis Obispo County and admitted to The Marine Mammal Center in December 2008. After treatment he was released back into the wild but re-stranded again several times, often found surrounded by people. His apparent preference to human company has made him unsuitable for life in the wild, but he is fitting in perfectly with his new friends here! In fact, he recently moved to the Foxwoods Marine Theater to join the daily sea lion shows!

The two females, Cali and Sakari, come from SeaWorld’s Stranded Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation program. One was rescued in February 2009 at Ocean Beach in San Diego, California, and the other was rescued in January 2009 at Oceanside Harbor in Oceanside, California. They are currently staying in the Gurdon and Kathy Wattles Marine Mammal Observatory, but will eventually join the Aquarium’s Steller sea lions in the Pacific Northwest exhibit.

The pups are ambassadors, revealing the challenges animals face in the wild. Come meet them – they’ll be all grown up before you know it!

The Gurdon & Kathy Wattles Marine Mammal Observatory is made possible through the generosity of the New York Community Trust, the Wattles Family Charitable Trust Fund, and Dr. George M. & Carol Milne.