I imagine that most places wouldn't be interested in keeping larger pinnipeds because of the space requirements. This means that elephant seals and leopard seals would be excluded. Also, unless a zoo is in a cold area, keeping a large, cold exhibit (even for a smaller seal species) can be expensive. I wonder if appearance also plays a factor. To the average zoo guest, most Antarctic seals don't look much different from commonly kept species like harbor seals.
Walruses and polar bears are not so uncommon in warm areas (for example Valencia oceanographic in Spain and SeaWorld San Diego)... for sure there are less antarctic seals than walruses and polar bears in Northern Hemisphere zoos.
To answer your question from a Europe-specific point of view: Zootierliste lists 11 collections holding Pacific Walrus, four of which I would classify as being in "hot" areas and two in borderline areas (where temperatures are high in summer but lower in winter). ZTL lists 58 collections holding Polar Bear, 8 in "hot" areas and 32 in borderline areas.
Mmm, so Antarctic seals are do-able? The leopard seal needs some love round the world. I googled something about a sea snake regurgitated by a freshly captured leopard seal, which surely suggests the seals have some tolerance of warmer waters.
I too would like to see those as they are quite cute. But, not much is known about them and they are the rarest of the Antarctic seals.
That is quite an awesome list!!! When did you visit Pieterburen to see the Monk Seals!? They're not listed on Zootierliste. Also very interested in the Antarctic fur seal you saw at Durban Zoo, what year was that!? Anyone have any idea if they currently keep the species? Here is my lifelist of Pinnipeds, also at 23 species leaving us at an exact tie haha. 1.) (Odobenus rosmarus) walrus 2.) (Eumetopias jubatus) Steller sea lion 3.) (Neophoca cinerea) Australian Sea Lion 4.) (Otaria byronia) South American sea lion 5.) (Zalophus californianus) California sea lion 6.) (Zalophus wollebaeki) Galapagos sea lion 7.) (Arctocephalus australis) South American Fur Seal 8.) (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) Galapagos Fur Seal 9.) (Arctocephalus forsteri) New Zealand fur seal 10.) (Arctocephalus pusillus) South African fur seal 11.) (Arctocephalus townsendi) Guadalupe fur seal 12.) (Arctocephalus tropicalis) subantarctic fur seal 13.) (Callorhinus ursinus) Northern fur seal 14.) (Halichoerus grypus) Gray Seal 15.) (Hydrurga leptonyx) leopard seal 16.) (Monachus schauinslandi) Hawaiian monk seal 17.) (Mirounga angustirostris) Northern elephant seal 18.) (Mirounga leonine) Southern elephant seal 19.) (Pagophilus groenlandicus) harp seal 20.) (Phoca largha) spotted seal 21.) (Phoca vitulina) harbor seal 22.) (Pusa hispida) ringed seal 23.) (Pusa sibirica) Baikal seal combined we have 27! I never realized that unlike most groups of mammals, one could have a reasonable chance of seeing every Pinniped species with a bit of traveling (whereas one could spend weeks in a location with little to no chance of seeing Andean cats for instance). Out of the 10 species I'm missing I believe 4 are currently kept in captivity (Hooded, Caspian, Ribbon, Bearded) with an occasional 5th (Mediterranean Monk) being rescued and rehabilitated. 4 more could be seen in and around Antarctica (easier said than actually traveled to, but definitely a hopeful future destination.) That leaves a separate, non-convenient trip off the coast of Chile for the final species (Juan Fernández fur seals) unless they ever pop up in Chilean zoos- not sure? In the near future I hope to have a chance at seeing wild Hooded seals in a trip to Nova Scotia and captive Bearded Seal which I believe is kept in California. Still kicking myself for not forcing more days into my Japan stop last year to try to see Ribbon, Caspian and Bearded seals.
I have seen the monk seals in Piertburen in 1987. There were three pups that were stranded in Greece. Since there was no Rescue Station in Greece at that time, the animals were transferred for a short time to the Netherlands for rehabilitation. I visited the Antarctic Fur Seal in 2016 in Durban. Also this young male was under rehabilitation and not on public display. There are only a few (3 ore 4) records of A. gazella at South African coasts. It was great to see this animal and it was worth traveling from Germany to Durban for only three days (only seal nerds can understand that)
That location for the captive Bearded Seal is Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory in California but I just called to check in with them, and it would seem that Seal was long ago released. They do currently have a Hawaiian Monk seal which will be sent to Hawaii at some point in the future.
Quite jealous of some of these lists! California Sea Lion Steller's Sea Lion (the only species I've also seen in the wild) Northern Fur Seal Harbor Seal Spotted Seal Gray Seal Walrus Possibly one or two others, but those would have been long ago; I don't know how some of you remember seeing animals 30+ years ago, it amazes me.
Some of these lists are very impressive! I have seen in captivity: -Australian Sea Lion (Sea Life Sunshine Coast, Dolphin Marine Magic) -New Zealand Fur Seal (Sea Life Sunshine Coast) -Australian Fur Seal (Sea Life Sunshine Coast, Melbourne Zoo) -Californian Sea Lion (SeaWorld Gold Coast) Although both Sea Life and SeaWorld apparently hold Subantarctic Fur Seal, I still haven’t seen this species.
wild and captivity: n. elephant seal California sea lion harbor seal captivity Baikal seal walrus Hawaiian monk seal
Captivity: California sea lion (Auckland Zoo, Marineland Napier) Australian sea lion (Sea Life Sunshine Coast) Australian fur seal (Sea Life Sunshine Coast) New Zealand fur seal (Sea Life Sunshine Coast, Auckland Zoo, Marineland Napier) Subantarctic fur seal (Auckland Zoo) Wild: New Zealand sea lion New Zealand fur seal Apparently sightings of wild Leopard seals have increased in New Zealand, so I'm hoping to add that to the list in time.
I have got: Baikal seal (Toba) Caspian seal (kamogawa) Gray seal (Yokohama Sea Paradise) South American fur seal (Kyoto aquarium) Spotted seal (A lot) Ringed seal (Osaka,Kamogawa) California sea lion (A lot of zoos) Stellar sea lion (Ocean Park HK, Toba) Walrus (Ocean Park, Toba and more)
How long will it take the Northern Elephant Seal at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium to get to its adult size based on it being in captivity? I'd really like to see Coolio then!
