It's finally here! The friendly competition between the fur seals (aka Team Phoca) and Team Tiburon will take place at the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center at 12:30 pm and 2:45 pm today, so we hope you will be joining us in cheering on your favorite team.
A fur seal in training with her trainer, Erin
Of course, both teams have been busy preparing. The challenges that make up today's competition will take place both in and out of the water, but we already know that Northern fur seals are well adapted to moving around in different environments. Check out this video to see what the seals have been up to.
Be sure to check in next week for some of the highlights of today's event along with the final score. In the meantime, who do you think will be the winner?
The fur seals are holding their heads high, feeling pretty confident
With the 116th Boston Marathon just around the corner, I am always inspired to get out there and start running again. This got me thinking about how the different types of seals at the Aquarium move around on land. Eared seals (all fur seals and sea lions) have adapted to move quickly and easily on land, while true seals, like our harbor seals aren't quite as agile. Why is that?
It all comes down to feet, or in this case, flippers. Fur seals and sea lions have larger flippers and can rotate their back flippers underneath their bodies so they have "four on the floor." Check out Ursula's flippers here.
Other seals have much shorter flippers and their back flippers stay behind them. To move on land they have to move on their bellies, similar to an inchworm.
Now lets see those flippers in action. (Be sure to listen carefully, you can hear Trumpet's belly slapping the ground when she moves!)
We have a few people from the Aquarium running the Marathon on Monday. We wish them and all of the participants the best of luck!
And don't forget, next Friday, April 20, the fur seals will be taking on Team Tiburon in a friendly competition in preparation for the upcoming "Tough Mudder" race. We hope to see you all here at the NEAq cheering on your favorite team. Our next Fitness Friday post will highlight the training techniques used by the seals to prepare, so stay tuned!
Wheeeee! The sea lions have found a great way to get moving. Take a look!
Zoe and Sierra race up the ramp and then use it as a water slide on the way back down. You can call it play or you can call it exercise. Whatever you call it, the sea lions and trainers are having a blast!
These young sea lions aren't the only ones who like sliding down the ramp. Check out this video of Ursula the Northern fur seal having a go.
To show off his long, super strong front flippers, Isaac has learned how to do a flipperstand. This is just what it sounds like—the seal equivalent of a handstand! Watch the steps Isaac and Justin went through to show you the incredible strength of fur seals (and that's just the front flippers!).
Can you do a handstand? Try learning how to do one the way Isaac did!
