This exhibit was originally built in 1908, the current renovated version was first presented to the public 2012. Normally it houses the main harbor seal group, however the California sea lions are currently housed here, and the main harbor seal group is currently housed in the former Dalmatian pelican exhibit next to the hippos (Antwerp currently no longer has pelicans). The black mesh fence with the metal poles was put in place as an additional sea lion barrier, and wasn't there when the harbor seals lived in this exhibit.
The sea lions were previously housed in the Aquaforum (which was itself a former dolphin facility) that is part of the jubilee complex. That complex closed at the end of 2019 for complete renovation, but the project was halted by the Covid-19 crisis and isn't expected to be started up again until 2022. Originally a new mostly outdoor sea lion facility was planned as part of the renovation, but it was scrapped as it was deemed too difficult to execute for heritage protection and probably also some financial reasons.
The zoo has therefore decided to move their remaining California sea lions to other zoos, transfers that are expected to take place later this year. A transport cage was already placed in the exhibit for the sea lions to get used to it.
