A new $27.5 million dollar renovation project will soon be underway at the Henry Doorly Zoo. A new state-of-the-art sea lion exhibit is in the works and they hope to have it open by September of 2020.
The new project will be located where the bears used to call home. The exhibit will feature ocean simulated experiences for the sea lions. The pools and the rocks will be heated in the winter and cooled in the summer. There will also be crevices in the rocks where frozen fish pockets will slowly thaw and let fish into the pools.
There will also be a special pupping beach that will be new to the zoo. Pups cannot swim within the first one to three weeks of life and this enclosed beach will allow them to remain safe. There will also be an underwater cave, a sand castle beach and rocks that can be climbed to overlook the area. Included is an amphitheater and underwater ocean where people can watch the handlers caring for the sea lions.
This will be an interactive exhibit and educational for both children and adults.
Photo courtesy of 6 News.