Patty slapped some of the shamrock-shaped gelatin pieces on to the glass wall for the sea lions to find.

Visitors and fur seals alike were curious about the activity.

But the fur seals were decidedly "meh" about the jello.

The sea lions, however, got right in there to explore!

There was lots of sniffing and chewing and tossing and biting of the gelatin.

And visitors had front row seats on the fun!

The sea lions wanted in on the snow-making action. Watch!

See the sea lions—sleeping and splashing. Plan a visit and buy ticket online—no service charge.

Don't you just love going through old pictures? We stumbled on this one of Zoe and Sierra having a powerfully cuddly nap and we got a laugh. These two had a whole dry deck in this behind-the-scenes area but they opted for the perch and pig-pile approach on the side ledge.

Zoe and Sierra know how to cuddle

These two sea lions are definitely a tactile pair, almost always touching during nap time, rarely a flipper's distance apart when playing. The fur seals, on the other hand, are much more independent. They may be near each other but they definitely maintain their personal space—even while napping underwater.

If you think this is cute, check out these pics:

• See more snoozing sea lions
• And on the other side of the spectrum, check out some sea lion shenanigans
• Zoe playing with the hose, again
• Catching bubbles in their mouths
• Solving puzzles together

More playtime with Zoe! More gushing water from a hose. But this time it's in slow motion. Enjoy!



By now you know that Zoe loves playing with hose so it's a regular activity during sea lion enrichment time. It appears that she enjoys the gush of the water in her mouth.
The hoses in the exhibit can run fresh and salt water, but the sea lions seem to prefer the feel of fresh water in their mouths. But don't forget, they don't need the freshwater for drinking. They get all the hydration they need from their fishy meals.



Check out this list of fun times with the sea lions:

• Most recently, Zoe cuddled the hose in the water
• The sea lions regularly wrestle with the hose in the exhibit
• Sometimes they played with the hose on deck
• And then there's that time they tried to drag the hose behind the scenes
• Even frisking around under a sprinkler (attached to a hose) is good fun for these two

We've seen it before. The sea lions just love to play around with the hose.

Well, it happened again. During an enrichment session, the trainers offered a gushing hose to the boisterous sea lions and they took it and swam with it. Just watch...



While the pair was splashing around behind-the-scenes, Zoe created her own fountain. It's fun to watch her figure out how to hold the hose just right so the water falls directly into her mouth. Sierra  sidled up to get in on the action too.

Interestingly, the hoses in the exhibit can run fresh and salt water. The sea lions seem to prefer the feel of fresh water in their mouths. But they don't need the freshwater for drinking. They get all the hydration they need from their fishy meals.

Check out this list of fun times with the sea lions:

• That time they wrestled with the hose in the exhibit
• That time they played with the hose on deck
• That time they tried to drag the hose behind the scenes
• That time they frisked around under a sprinkler (attached to a hose)

Ursula (foreground) and Chiidax and Kitovi (L to R behind her)

Note the two lumps of sea lion lazing in the deeper part of the pool

In the background you can see the sea lions, Zoe and Sierra, logging at the surface. Sea lions sometimes sleep in the water but they don't jug handle. Sometimes they "sail" with a front and/or rear flipper straight up in the air while their body floats. Another difference between the sea lions and fur seals: blubber versus fur. The sea lions have a nice layer of blubber to stay warm, and the fur seals rely on their super-thick fur coats—even when wet.

When they're not relaxing in the pool, these animals are definitely a rambunctious crew. Check out some of their antics in these blog posts:

• The sea lions even make eating peas look like fun 
• Silly Sierra likes to stick her tongue out 
• Like many of us, the sea lions like to play in the sprinkler 
• And when you can't handle the heat, think about all the snow the seals played in last winter 

Enrichment comes in all shapes and sizes at the Aquarium. Recently we decided to see what the sea lions thought of peas. Yup, tiny, green, frozen, boring little peas. Here's how they reacted.



Not so boring after all! Zoe was really into this tasty activity. Sierra? Not so much. Every animal is different with their own unique personality.

These two.

See what kind of mischief these two have gotten into over the years:

• Whee! Playing in the sprinkler is fun for sea lions too
• Rain drops. Fun times.
• Blowing bubbles is a new kind of awesome.
• Oh, and they can get into shenanigans
• Slip and slide! Dancing! Soccer! Video bonanza

Leu, a rescued Northern fur seal

Leu dove right into the activity, snarfing small fish and squid from the jack-o-lantern

Leu even stuffed his whole head into the pumpkin, and then tried to dribble the gourd into the water!

Zoe, California sea lion

Zoe did not enjoy playing with the pumpkins as much, until...

... the pumpkin splashed into the water. Then there were some curious pumpkin bobbers!

Many of us find ourselves glued to the events in Sochi right now. It's inspiring to see lithe athletes in their prime, pushing the limits of artistry and gravity. After all, Fitness Friday is a highlight of our week here at the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center. So with the Olympics on our minds, it's not hard to imagine the seals and sea lions in similar acrobatic endeavors.

Zoe practices skeleton

The sea lions and fur seals have lots of toys available to them for enrichment purposes. Sometimes we put jello in these big dishes, sometimes a sea lion squeezes herself into one. We thought Zoe looked like a skeleton slider (minus the icy track and break-neck speeds)!

Leu finds a missing Olympic ring

Meanwhile, Leu, our rescued Northern fur seal, found a missing Olympic ring. He found it a nice place for a mid-play nap.

Come visit these animals when they're up to their Olympic antics in the main exhibit! Whether it's snowy or sunny, these animals are right at home in the marine mammal center. Get front row seats to watch these clever marine animals slide, splash and interact with their trainers. (Psst...save time and buy your tickets online!)

Find out other ways our seals and sea lions stay active (and rested):
The fur seal pups—Kit and Chiidax—have fun on a snow day

• Seals and sea lions play with bubbles
• Zoe and Sierra exercise their problem solving skills
• And then they find time for some frisking in the sprinkler
• The harbor seals got in on the mental action
• When the play is all through, everyone needs a rest

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

Since the feasts of Thanksgiving, many people are getting outside to work off that turkey and gravy today. Whether you're taking a stroll, hitting the gym, raking or playing an informal game of touch football, there are plenty of ways to get active.

Zoe paused just long enough for us to snap a picture.

In fact, play is a great way for kids of all ages to move it! Take the sea lions, for example. Zoe and Sierra are almost always on the move, and they are indeed a playful pair. In honor of Fitness Friday this week, we thought we'd share just one of the ways these gals play.

Sprinkler time!

Zoe appears to love the way sprinklers and hoses feel in her mouth.

This picture shows how limber the sea lions are!

Zoe comes right up to the glass when the sprinkler is on, giving visitors an up-close look at these powerfully playful marine mammals.

The sprinkler isn't always on in the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center. This activity is just a periodic form of enrichment that the marine mammal trainers use to keep the seals and sea lions active—both mentally and physically. Of course, we don't expect folks in the colder Northern climes to run outside to play in the sprinkler. But we hope you can get outside to play today—why don't you come see the sea lions play! And we hope it was a happy Thanksgiving for all our readers.

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.

As animal trainers, one of the most important things we do is build and nurture the relationships that we share with our animals. A great way to do this is through play! Not only does play allow us to build relationships, but it's also a great way to find out what our animals seem to enjoy or find reinforcing. One of the things our resident California sea lions seem to enjoy the most is any type of water play.


Watch the video below to get a behind-the-scenes peek at Zoe and Sierra as they enjoy playtime with a sprinkler that was set up for them by their trainers!



This isn't the first time we've featured the sea lions enjoying some fun under the spray. Watch the sea lions hosing off and having summertime fun in the water, too!

What's one of the best things about winter? Snow days of course!

Check out how Leu, a Northern fur seal, and California sea lions, Zoe and Sierra, spend their snow days. Here's Leu's version of a snowball fight.



Press play to see Zoe and Sierra get a taste of winter.




Snow has provided enrichment for our marine mammals before. Watch Ursula romp in the snow on the deck.

Spectator isn't a word usually applied to our sea lions, Zoe and Sierra. These two are most often seen moving around the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center at top speed, whether they're zipping through the water, porpoising or slaloming down the ramp that leads to the behind-the-scenes area. But in the video below Zoe and Sierra prove there are lots of ways to add exercise to your day, even when you are being a spectator.

Those sea lions, always up to something. Most recently they tore through the exhibit in a high-energy game of keep away, just another example of how you can get good exercise with some fun and games. And here, Exhibit A.



Zoe and Sierra really took porpoising to new levels with this game. It's amazing to watch them fly through the air and zip through the water. Check out more videos of them in action here, here and here.



You may have noticed the wall flowers in the background—the mature fur seals were having none of the young sea lions games. But did you hear Baranov whickering in the background? He seemed to be defending his patch of deck from the other male, Isaac, and those rascally pups.

Exercise comes in many shapes, sizes and species sometimes. For your Fitness Friday enjoyment today, we give you marine mammal trainer Kathy playing catch with Zoe, the California sea lion.



Our marine mammals get lots of enrichment, which helps stimulate their brains as much as their athletic muscles. See more videos of Zoe playing soccer, doing the high jump, learning the crawl stroke and goofing off with a garden hose—all fun and enriching activities that help her stay active!