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Animal Guide

California Sea Lion

50 destinations · 28 states

Native Range
Pacific coast of North America

California sea lions are rarely short on personality. At a zoo or aquarium, one may spend a few minutes barking loudly, jostling for space on a platform, then slip into the water and zip around the habitat. Their front flippers give them impressive control underwater, while their flexible hind flippers can rotate forward on land, allowing them to move much more easily than seals. Listen for the distinctive barking calls, especially when several animals are together. Young sea lions may also be worth watching as they practice swimming, diving, and interacting with one another. Their whiskers are another small detail to notice. These sensitive hairs help detect movement in the water and can be surprisingly visible from close viewing areas. California sea lions are native to the Pacific coast of North America, where they gather around rocky shores, docks, and offshore islands. Watching one switch from awkward-looking land movements to fast, agile swimming shows just how differently these animals move in water and on shore.

California Sea Lion

Where to see California Sea Lion

50 destinations across 28 states

50 destinations

Aquarium of Niagara

Niagara Falls, NY

Aquarium of the Pacific

Long Beach, CA

Audubon Zoo

New Orleans, LA

Blank Park Zoo

Des Moines, IA

Bronx Zoo

Bronx, NY

Brookfield Zoo

Riverside, IL

Central Park Zoo

New York, NY

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Cleveland, OH

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Powell, OH

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

St Paul, MN

Denver Zoo

Denver, CO

El Paso Zoo

El Paso, TX

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

West Orange, NJ

Fort Wayne Zoo

Fort Wayne, IN

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno, CA

Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta, GA

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Fort Walton Beach, FL

Houston Zoo

Houston, TX

Indianapolis Zoo

Indianapolis, IN

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Kansas City, MO

Long Island Aquarium

Riverhead, NY

Louisville Zoo

Louisville, KY

Memphis Zoo

Memphis, TN

Minnesota Zoo

Apple Valley, MN

Moody Gardens

Galveston, TX

Mystic Aquarium

Mystic, CT

New England Aquarium

Boston, MA

New York Aquarium

Brooklyn, NY

Ocean World

Crescent City, CA

OdySea Aquarium

Scottsdale, AZ

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

Omaha, NE

Oregon Coast Aquarium

Newport, OR

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Pittsburgh, PA

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Tacoma, WA

Prospect Park Zoo

Brooklyn, NY

Queens Zoo

Corona, NY

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

Columbia, SC

Saint Louis Zoo

St. Louis, MO

Sea Life Park Hawaii

Waimanalo Beach, HI

SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando, FL

SeaWorld San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

SeaWorld San Diego

San Diego, CA

Seneca Park Zoo

Rochester, NY

Shedd Aquarium

Chicago, IL

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Washington, DC

The Buffalo Zoo

Buffalo, NY

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

Toledo, OH

Tulsa Zoo

Tulsa, OK

Utah's Hogle Zoo

Salt Lake City, UT

Wildlife World Zoo

Litchfield Park, AZ

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