When did you visit the aquarium? Siku seems to have gone on exhibit in November. She may be difficult to tell apart from the Harbor Seals You can just make another visit after Memorial Day, and get paddlefish on your list as well.
I visited in November Right after Thanksgiving. I do recall seeing a seal I assumed was an odd looking Harbor so I'll need to take a closer look at my photos! Does the zoo still keep two ssp of Harbor Seal? Are they both exhibited together? I have seen paddlefish while in England of all places! I see from the video that some sturgeon species has arrived as well. Any idea what else will go in the new exhibit? Perhaps the gar? ~Thylo
The aquarium has both Atlantic and Pacific Harbor Seals in Pacific Northwest. An article from last year states that they have 5 Atlantic and 1 Pacific. Have a one-on-one encounter with a seal at Mystic Aquarium
How many northern fur seals does the aquarium have at the moment? Also, are the Steller's sea lions still on exhibit or are they all gone?
When I visited at the end of last year they had one adult Northern Fur Seal and three rescued pups. The sea lions were off-exhibit for an enclosure cleaning or something but they should be back on-show by now. I believe they have either 0.2 or 0.3. ~Thylo
Thank you! Do you remember if the adult fur seal was a female or a male? Also, their website only mentions California sea lions, so I hope they do have Steller's still. Sorry for all these questions, but I will be driving by Mystic in June on the way to Boston, will have very little time, but, since I have never photographed Steller's sea lions, or male fur seals before, seriously consider to have a quick visit. But I will be very disappointed if the sea lions turn out to be Californian I'll be also visiting New England Aquarium on the same tour, and they have northern fur seals, but I think they don't have any adult males.
I want to say their fur seal is a male but not entirely sure tbh. I'll also be very upset if the Steller's are gone, though I don't think they are. There's also an unsigned Spotted Seal in with the fur seals and Harbor Seals so keep an eye out for that. ~Thylo
The aquarium has two new female Steller Sea Lions from the Alaska SeaLife Center. One of them, Eden, was previously at Mystic from 2008-2010, and she is now back with her two-year old pup Perl. Mystic Aquarium Welcomes Mother, Daughter Steller Sea Lions
I had the same thought as well. I remember only a few years ago the aquarium had 2.2 whales but they've never been very successful in breeding them unfortunately. ~Thylo
American aquariums and marine mammal parks in general have been struggling to successfully breed belugas, which the activists use to their anti-captivity movement's advantage.
Natasha is for all intents and purposes a non-breeder. She had a calf or two in her younger years, however it has been well over 20 years since her last birth, despite being housed with multiple breeding males. Rather a shame mystic keeps getting perpetually stuck with non breeding females. They offer one of the larger beluga habitats in the US, and are located rather northerly, which seems to lend more success with the whales. They've housed males who were successful breeders, but alas, it was their females that were and continue to be the issue.
New research and education facility to be opened tomorrow : Mystic Aquarium opens new research, education facility
A new exhibit focusing on plastic pollution in the ocean has opened. New exhibit at Mystic Aquarium focuses on plastic pollution in the ocean
I like how they just say "seal" when the aquarium exhibits five pinniped species, three of which are called seals Obviously it's a Harbor Seal, though. ~Thylo