Christmas in Mystic

Welcoming Two Steller New Animals

We recently welcomed Steller sea lions Eden and Perl to their new home here in Connecticut; bringing our Steller population to four. Get a glimpse of their Aquarium arrival in the video below.

Eden was at Mystic Aquarium from 2008-2010 before traveling to Alaska Sea Life Center (ASLC) to participate in an important groundbreaking research breeding program. Perl was born to Eden (and sire Pilot) in July 2016 at ASLC.

“We can’t wait for our guests to meet and be inspired by the mother/daughter duo, but we ask for patience as they get acclimated to their new surroundings.” -Erin Gibbons, Assistant Supervisor & Pinniped Trainer

That acclimation period will include time for Eden and Perl to get comfortable in their new habitat and to establish a positive reinforcement history with new trainers.

The next step will involve introducing Eden and Perl to Astro and Sitka through a visual barrier. This process, which will take at least a week, will allow the animals to introduce themselves before combining them into one social group.

So that our staff and volunteers can enjoy the holiday with family, Mystic Aquarium will be closed December 25 for Christmas.

ANIMAL SPOTLIGHT Steller Sea Lions Mystic Aquarium is one of only two organizations in the United States and the only one in the Continental U.S. to have Steller sea lions. “For a number of reasons it is critically important for Mystic Aquarium to care for Stellers; most notably the conservation of the species,” said Mystic Aquarium’s Curator of Marine Mammals & Birds, Laurie Macha, who also accompanied the duo from Alaska to Connecticut. Steller sea lions are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as near-threatened. The Western population of Steller sea lions in Alaska is listed as endangered by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Mystic Aquarium is part of the international Steller Sea Lion Consortium with the goal of understanding reasons for population declines and the threats to their survival. The Consortium works closely to collectively care for Steller sea lions to provide insight, understanding and research that contributes to the recovery of wild populations. “It is a privilege for us to be able to care for Steller sea lions,” concluded Gibbons. “Simply watching these large and dynamic animals helps inspire us all to be better stewards of the environment.”

A gift that gives all year, and also gives back! When you give the gift of a Mystic Aquarium membership, you're giving a year filled with animal adventures, global discoveries, family fun, exclusive perks and more. Plus, your gift membership helps to protect our ocean planet. Purchase your gift membership now!