Make a splash on your next trip to the Zoo with
Audubon’s California sea lions!
Experience the incredible intelligence of these marine mammals as they gracefully navigate their aquatic habitat. Sea lions are always a crowd favorite—be sure not to miss the mesmerizing underwater viewing area!
Audubon Zoo has welcomed a new female sea lion who was recovering from injuries and health problems at the Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles in San Pedro. The newcomer has settled in and has joined the Zoo’s family of three sea lions.
Audubon staff has gotten to know the new sea lion well and chose the perfect name to match her personality and backstory—“Ayah,” which means “miracle” in Arabic.
Having Ayah join our sea lion family is an honor. We couldn’t be happier to give her a home here at Audubon Zoo. She is already an amazing ambassador for her species, and we hope her story will inspire our guests to be more aware of how humans impact our fragile oceans and what we all can do to help.
In June 2017, Ayah was rescued off the Malibu coast. She was malnourished, and a later examination revealed that she had a small caliber bullet in the right side of her brain. While the injury resulted in the loss of her left eye, miraculously she suffered no neurological damage. Although Ayah has some scarring on her right cornea, she can still see with that eye. Her recovery is remarkable.
“Not every facility wants to take in sea lions with visual issues, but Audubon literally saved her life by accepting her. We are deeply grateful. For me, this animal is all about resilience. New Orleans is a perfect home for her,” says Lauren Palmer, staff veterinarian at the Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles."
