When I was a child I loved this enclosure- it seemed to me to be the very heart of the Zoo. I also remember the build up to 'feeding time' as much as the session itself- how the Sealions would torpedo round the pool at increasing speed, and every so often throw themselves up onto the land looking for the keeper's arrival. Also how they orchestrated the feeding time so all Sealions got their share of fish. One would be diving of the rocks for fish, another couple catching theirs in the water, another sitting near him and getting it by hand etc. The bull always seemed collosal compared to the females too. Wonderful memories...
As I've repeated before, I so regret they have left...
I can also remember when you could walk through the interior of the SOH, and seeing a Kiwi in there many years ago(it was put on display just for a short time each day).
it really was a shame that the sealions (or fur seals was what i think they had right at the end of their time at the zoo) left. what year was it when they started too 'ship out' the species which were not needed because they wern't rare enough?
About 1990 I think. They suddenly became very conservation conscious and some species that didn't fit the bill left. But it was a bit random as some species e.g. Giraffes stayed put. Not sure exactly when the SeaLion pool was finally vacated.
