Reggae and his trainer Marie are working on some exciting—and quite refreshing—new skills this summer. Marie is working with him underwater! Here's a short clip to show you what it's like.



Of course, kissing is just a fun way for the trainer and seal to connect during a training session. But working with a seal underwater and helping him become comfortable with the trainer in this element could open up a whole new way to observe the animals in their exhibit.

Come check out the harbor seal training sessions this summer! You might just see Reggae and his trainer eye-to-eye underwater.

With fur as thick as a Northern fur seal, near-zero temperatures and snow storms pose no problem for the Northern fur seals at the New England Aquarium. In fact, they can be quite fun.

Kitovi and Chiidax, our newest additions to the Aquarium's Northern fur seal colony, are currently behind the scenes, but this did not stop these two 6 month old seals from enjoying their very own snow day! While humans everywhere stayed home to brave the storm, these two babies, especially Chiidax, discovered how much fun piles of frosty flakes can be.

Kitovi

Chiidax, a rescued Northern fur seal from Alaska, has grown quite a bit since arriving at the Aquarium a couple months ago—you can hardly recognize him!

Kitovi and Chiidax

Watch how Kitovi and Chiidax play in the snow.  At first they don’t quite know what to make of the giant pile of snow, but they quickly figure out that it’s fun new toy.



Kitovi and Chiidax are not the only seals to enjoy a good snowy romp, check out some of the antics of Leu and Ursula.

Stay warm everyone!

-Marie

Instead of snow, there’s something else falling from the sky - - Bubbles!

Zoe, a California sea lion, and Kitovi (Kit), one of our young Northern Fur seals, are enjoying a Bubbly Wonderland!



You can see that Zoe prefers to catch the bubbles in her mouth and Kit who is just a few weeks old in this video just gazes at the bubbles falling from the sky.

Zoe and Sierra

Kitovi

Bubbles are just one of the many ways that we engage our seals and sea lions in enrichment.Check out some of the many ways we interact with our seals and sea lions through play from rain drops, jello, light reflections, ice toys . . . . the list is endless!

Be safe and have happy holidays everyone!!
-Marie

You may remember some of the shenanigans the California sea lions, Zoe and Sierra, got into last summer…see what mischief they are up to this time!



It is amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. Watch what Zoe and Sierra do when they decide they want to fit a long pole through a doorway...

Whew, well done! Time for a nap.

Zoe and Sierra napping in the sun

-Marie

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

There are many traditions that go along with Thanksgiving. Some people have specific dishes they prepare each year, and others have specific activities or travel destinations. Last Thanksgiving, the seals received a fish feast!

The 2012 Thanksgiving feast—what's in store this year?

I’m sure many of you remember hand turkeys—tracing your own hand and coloring in the fingers. Hopefully more than a few of you made your own this year—everyone in the mammals department sure did! (Check back this Thursday to see a picture of all the hand turkeys the trainers and volunteers made!).

Here in the mammals department, we put a unique fishy spin on the idea: Flurkeys! Atlantic harbor seals do not have hands, but they have flippers! With the help from one of the trainers and some non-toxic water-based paint, Reggae, an Atlantic harbor seal here at NEAQ, made his own Flipper-Turkey: a FLURKEY!

 See how his flurkey measures up to a hand turkey.
Thanksgiving is also a time to remember everything we are thankful for. We are thankful for our amazing animals and for all of our visitors (first timers and returnees) who we get to share the aquarium experience with everyday.  Thank you!!!

 Happy Flurkey Day everyone! Eat lots and have a wonderful day.

There are lots of activities we associate with Fall—apple picking, traversing corn mazes, picking out the perfect pumpkin, eating apple cider donuts, spending hours perfecting your jelly costume. The list goes on and on. 

Now for our California sea lions, Zoe and Sierra, they found their own fall festivities to enjoy. Instead of bobbing for apples, they bob for pumpkins.



Did you notice how Zoe and Sierra use their noses, whiskers and mouths to play with a pumpkin!

Happy Halloween!

-Marie

Halloween greetings from the sea lions!

The leaves are changing color.  The air is crisp.  It’s definitely fall in New England!


A refreshing breeze blew a couple leaves into the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center with our Northern fur seals and California sea lions. Zoe, a California sea lion, immediately found the perfect new toy. Check out Zoe playing with a leave she found in her exhibit!



Happy Fall everyone!

-Marie

Learn more about Zoe and her favorite playmate, Sierra:

• Check out her acrobatics, see how high she can jump out of the water.
• Watch video of Zoe and Sierra playing in a sprinkler
• Remember snow? The sea lions and young fur seals think it's so much fun! 
• And remember when it was so hot you could do nothing but play in the water?
• A good ol' fashioned game of keepaway is always a blast
• After so much play, these girls need a nap! See pictures of this sleepy sea lion pair

Sometimes you just need a good nap.



Zoe and Sierra, two California sea lions at the New England Aquarium are doing just that.  When the sea lions are tuckered out from their shenanigans, you can sometimes see them cuddled up taking a snooze.  This is exactly how we found them yesterday afternoon right after lunch!



Sweet dreams!





-Marie

Come visit the seals and sea lions in the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center! 
Buy tickets online and print them out before you come.

Most Atlantic harbor seals are born in May and June. At the New England Aquarium, the trainers like to help the seals celebrate the o-fish-al birthday season. These special occasions only come around once a year so it’s a big celebration for our six Atlantic harbor seals!

An ice toy layer cake for Reggae!

You may think we celebrate in a slightly unconventional way, but for seals, it’s a party! In lieu of birthday cake and icing, we concoct tasty fish surprises for our aquatic mammals.


Heart shaped ice toy surprise for Trumpet!

This year we chose a different way to celebrate for each Harbor seal. Check out some of the ways we celebrated.


Happy Birthday everyone!!

Smile!

-Marie

Each seal here at the New England Aquarium has its own personality. Some are more curious than others and some seem to enjoy exploring new places.

The fur seals in the marine mammal center all have very distinct personalities.

This sense of adventure can sometimes lead to interesting situations.

Leu, a two year old juvenile Northern Fur seal, likes to play with jello, snow and his fellow juvenile Flaherty.  Here, Leu gets into his own brand of mischief when he sneaks behind the scenes…


Thankfully, Leu gave us the dive mask back after showing off his find to Sierra, one of our California sea lions.

-Marie

Here at the New England Aquarium the Atlantic harbor seals are ready for Spring! Reggae can barely contain his excitment for the coming warm weather. It's been a long and snowy winter! Check out Reggae's flashy speed swim. Look closely at the beginning and you can see him practically launch himself out of the water he's so excited.



In the wild, swimming fast is important to avoid predators and to move around quickly. He certainly can swim fast! Reggae also shows how quickly harbor seals can turn and maneuver in the water. 



Check out some other speed swimming seals, and speaking of launching out of the water!

Happy Spring!

A winter full of snow storms... and we’re all set here at the Aquarium! With their thick fur coats, Northern fur seals are perfectly adapted for cold weather. Check out how the seals and their trainers faired during Winter Storm Nemo.

A thick layer of snow covering everything in sight!

Not a problem, Roxie, Ursula and Cordova did not let these frosty conditions interfere with their lunch.

Those snow drifts are bigger than 7 month old Flaherty!

Snow angels!  (those silly trainers)

Looks like the seals had fun in the snow!  How do you play in the snow? 
-Marie