By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer Published: 1/25/2012 1:53 AM Last Modified: 1/25/2012 6:55 AM The Tulsa Zoo's two sea lions are back home and getting accustomed to their new $5 million exhibit, which features a 100,000-gallon saltwater pool, an underwater viewing wall, naturalistic rocks and a waterfall feature, bleacher seating and a demonstration stage. The Helmerich Sea Lion Cove is scheduled to open in March after final construction is complete and signs and interactive features, such as shipwrecked boats, are installed. The $5 million project was paid for with money from the 2006 third-penny sales tax as well as the zoo's Growing Wild capital campaign. Zookeepers already are working with Dorsey, a 15-year-old male, and Briney, a 25-year-old female, in the new exhibit to get them used to some of the features and to customize their behaviors for the space. "Dorsey is engaged," said Marcie Tarvid, the curator of behavioral husbandry at the zoo. "He's excited about everything he can do." The sea lions were transferred to the Oklahoma City Zoo in the fall of 2009 so the old exhibit could be torn down and the new one could be constructed. Kaleigh Jablonski, a large-mammal keeper and sea lion trainer, started working with Dorsey and Briney as soon as they arrived back in Tulsa in December. "They're still getting accustomed to" the new exhibit, she said "They're starting to use more" of it. Tarvid added: "It was basically an old-fashioned pool. There were no rocks, no swim-throughs" to the holding area. Once the exhibit opens, two shows a day will be scheduled in the new demonstration area, which will hold about 100 people, Tulsa Zoo CEO Terrie Correll said. "The public can see them even more up close," she said, including a view zoo visitors have never had before - the sea lions underwater. "You see them below the water, kind of flying through the water," Correll said. "In the old exhibit, you couldn't see how graceful they are." The old exhibit also had a freshwater pool, which isn't ideal for sea lions, she said. "A saltwater pool is essential to good eye health," Correll said. "In the past we had to add eye drops." Sea lions in captivity typically live 20 to 30 years, and the new exhibit is large enough to house four to five sea lions. Zoo staff members are hoping to fill the vacancies soon. "We're actively looking for additional animals from other zoos or from rehabilitation facilities on the West Coast," Correll said. Adding to the collection is something the zookeepers are excited about, Tarvid said. "It will be fun to see more than two swimming around," she said. Helmerich Sea Lion Cove The new exhibit is slated to open in March and will include a display of metal plaques with donors' names. A variety of donor levels are available: $50: 5-inch capelin fish $250: 9-inch herring $500: 11-inch squid $1,000: 15-inch salmon For more information or to make a donation online, go to tulsaworld.com/tulsazoo or contact Jenna Brightmire at 918-669-6614 or [email protected]. Read more from this Tulsa World article at Sea lions at Tulsa Zoo adjust to new $5 million home | Tulsa World
For more stories, including video, see: Sea Lions Return To A New Home At The Tulsa Zoo - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com | Tulsa Zoo welcomes home sea lions - FOX23 News
More video, from the Tulsa Zoo Official YouTube page: The Helmerich Sea Lion Cove, Opening March 2012.wmv - YouTube
