On May 19,
2012 Fresno Chaffee Zoo Teen LEADERS got a sneak peak of the Zoo’s new Sea Lion
Cove exhibit! Lead by Adrienne Castro, Director of Education, the TL’s were
able to tour the construction site and see the amazing development of the
detailed ocean-like setting first-hand. Some highlights of the tour were gazing
through the underwater viewing window, seeing the backstage keeper work areas,
and above all walking along the empty pool bottom lined with sculpted sea stars,
barnacles and mussels. Teen LEADER Hunter Lanningham remarked about the
experience “It was really bizarre—walking where it would soon be covered in 10
feet of water. It was literally a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I’ll never
forget it!” Castro also included many interesting facts in her tour including
the pool’s 200,000 gallon capacity and details on a unique constructed wetland
that will actual help to clean and filter water from the exhibit pool. Teen
LEADERS also commented “It was great to see the new home for these animals
being built right in front of us. We’re very excited to see what it will look
like when it’s finished!”
Sea Lion Cove is a multi-million
dollar exhibit that will bring a taste of the California coast to Fresno. Funded
by the 2004 tax initiative Measure Z and modeled after the breathtaking Point
Lobos, Sea Lion Cove will feature sea lions and seals in a naturalistic setting.
The exhibit will be complete with an underwater viewing window, large
presentation area, and nose-to-nose viewing structure. Sea Lion Cove is
scheduled to open fall 2012.
-Jared Price
Educator, Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Director of
Education, Adrienne Castro, shows Teen LEADERS the underwater viewing area
where they’ll soon be face to face with seals and sea lions.
Teen LEADERS were able to tour the empty pool itself, after snapping a few photos of course!
Teen LEADERS were able to tour the empty pool itself, after snapping a few photos of course!
