I have no idea the background of this mix, but I thought exactly the same when I first saw it. It is advertised at the zoo on a sheet we were given at the entrance though, so doesn't seem temporary
This has been discussed elsewhere already. This mix is not temporary and has been in place for about 9 months now and I do not know of any fatalities, but it will certainly help that Artis does not keep a male sea lion....
I commented on this exhibit in the mixed species thread, but perhaps it is worth repeating here: The reason this (so far at least) appears to work is likely because of genders of the involved species. This is a female-only group of sea lions mixed with a male-only group of penguins. Although sea lions do occasionally feed on sea birds and in the southern species this includes penguins, such feeding events are largely limited to males (which also tend to take larger fish than females). The zoo themselves have stated that breeding penguins could be disturbed by sea lions, but I suspect vulnerable juveniles could be predated even by female sea lions. Anyhow, with only male penguins that risk is removed. Only the future will tell if this mix continues without incidents, but I suspect it will as long as the gender restrictions of both sea lions and penguins are kept.
I've seen NZ fur seals of both sexes killing little blue penguins (which are quite a bit smaller than Spheniscus spp obviously). Personally I would never mix sealions/fur seals with penguins of any species.
Well, as you say, the little blue is much smaller and therefore not really all that comparable to "normal" penguins. Averages less than half the weight of male African. Regardless only time will tell if the current patterns continues, but as mentioned earlier there haven't (as far as I know) been any incidents and in three weeks this mix has its one year anniversary.
I'm just a fan of not mixing predatory/dangerous animals with smaller species.
I really don't understand the urge for zoos to mix lions and meerkats, sealions and penguins, chimps and jackals, bears and foxes, etc etc. It may work out fine, but if it doesn't the management is directly responsible for avoidable animal deaths.
