Pinnipeds in North America

Dhole dude

Dhole dude

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
This thread will document all holders of Pinnipeds in both the U.S and Canada. Rehab Animals will not be included in this list, as it's quite difficult to keep track of what species are held at any given time. Research Facilities will not be included either. This list uses USDA inspections, which can be notoriously inaccurate, so any updates or corrections are greatly appreciated.

Otariidae

California Sea Lion (63 Holders)
United states~
Aquarium of Niagara
Aquarium of the Pacific
Audubon Zoo
Birmingham Zoo
Blank Park Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Buffalo Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
Denver Zoo
Dolphin Research Center, FL
El Paso Zoo
Fort Wayne Children's Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Georgia Aquarium
Gulf World Marine Park, FL
Gulfarium, FL
Hershey Park
Houston Zoo
Indianapolis Zoo
Kansas City Zoo
Kentucky Kingdom
Long Island Aquarium
Louisville Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Miami Seaquarium
Milwaukee County Zoo
Moody Gardens
Mystic Aquarium
New England Aquarium
New York Aquarium
Ocean Adventures
Ocean World, CA
OdySea Aquarium
Oklahoma City Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Point Defiance Zoo
Prospect Park Zoo
Queens Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens
San Francisco Zoo
Sarasota Sea Lion Preserve, FL
Sea Life Park
Sea Lion Splash
Sea World Orlando
Sea World San Antonio
Sea World San Diego
Seneca Park Zoo
Shedd Aquarium
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, CA
Six Flags Great Adventure
Smithsonian National Zoo
St Louis Zoo
Theater of the Sea
Tulsa Zoo
Turtle Back Zoo
Utah's Hogle Zoo
Vancouver Aquarium
Wildlife World Zoo

Steller's Sea Lion (3 Holders)
Alaska SeaLife Center
Mystic Aquarium
Vancouver Aquarium

South American Sea Lion (2 Holders)
Sea Lion Splash
Sarasota Sea Lion Preserve, FL

Northern Fur Seal (5 Holders)
Edmonton Valley Zoo
Mystic Aquarium
New England Aquarium
Seattle Aquarium
Vancouver Aquarium

Guadalupe Fur Seal (1 Holder?)
SeaWorld San Diego?


Phocidae

Harbour Seal (54 Holders)
Alaska Sea Life Center
Alaska Zoo
Assiniboine Park Zoo
Aquarium du Quebec
Aquarium of Niagara
Aquarium of the Pacific
Bahia Resort Hotel?
Blank Park Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Buttonwood Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
Denver Zoo
Edmonton Valley Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Georgia Aquarium
Gulf World Marine Park, FL
Gulfarium, FL
Henry Vilas Zoo
Jenkinson's Aquarium, NJ
Lincoln Park Zoo, IL
Long Island Aquarium
Los Angeles Zoo
Louisville Zoo
Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Miami Seaquarium
Milwaukee County Zoo
Moody Gardens
Mystic Aquarium
New England Aquarium
New York Aquarium
North Carolina Zoo
Ocean World
Oklahoma City Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Oregon Zoo
Point Defiance Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Sea World Orlando
Sea World San Antonio
Sea World San Diego
Seaside Aquarium
Seattle Aquarium
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, CA
Smithsonian National Zoo
St Louis Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Utah's Hogle Zoo
Vancouver aquarium
Virginia Aquarium

Gray Seal (9-10 Holders)
Aquarium du Quebec?
Aquarium of Niagara
Brookfield Zoo
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
Indianapolis Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo, IL
Long Island Aquarium
Louisville Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoo
Toledo Zoo

Hawaiian Monk Seal (1 Holder)
Minnesota Zoo

Spotted Seal (1-2 Holders)
Alaska SeaLife Center?
Mystic Aquarium

Harp Seal (1-2 Holders)
Aquarium du Quebec?
SeaWorld Orlando

Ringed Seal (2 Holders)
Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaWorld San Diego

Northern Elephant Seal (1 Holder)
Pittsburg Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Odobenidae

Walrus (6 Holders)
Aquarium du Quebec
Indianapolis Zoo
Marineland Canada
Sea World Orlando
Sea World San Diego
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, CA
 
Last edited:
Dhole dude said:
This thread will document all holders of Pinnipeds in both the U.S and Canada. Rehab Animals will not be included in this list, as it's quite difficult to keep track of what species are held at any given time. Research Facilities will not be included either. This list uses USDA inspections, which can be notoriously inaccurate, so any updates or corrections are greatly appreciated.

Otariidae

California Sea Lion (63 Holders)
United states~
Aquarium of Niagara
Aquarium of the Pacific
Audubon Zoo
Birmingham Zoo
Blank Park Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Buffalo Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
Denver Zoo
Dolphin Research Center, FL
El Paso Zoo
Fort Wayne Children's Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Georgia Aquarium
Gulf World Marine Park, FL
Gulfarium, FL
Hershey Park
Houston Zoo
Indianapolis Zoo
Kansas City Zoo
Kentucky Kingdom
Long Island Aquarium
Louisville Zoo
Memphis Zoo
Miami Seaquarium
Moody Gardens
Mystic Aquarium
New England Aquarium
New York Aquarium
Ocean Adventures
Ocean World, CA
OdySea Aquarium
Oklahoma City Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Point Defiance Zoo
Prospect Park Zoo
Queens Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens
San Francisco Zoo
Sarasota Sea Lion Preserve, FL
Sea Life Park
Sea Lion Splash
Sea World Orlando
Sea World San Antonio
Sea World San Diego
Seneca Park Zoo
Shedd Aquarium
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, CA
Six Flags Great Adventure
Smithsonian National Zoo
St Louis Zoo
Theater of the Sea
Tulsa Zoo
Turtle Back Zoo
Utah's Hogle Zoo
Vancouver Aquarium
Wildlife World Zoo

Steller's Sea Lion (3 Holders)
Alaska SeaLife Center
Mystic Aquarium
Vancouver Aquarium

South American Sea Lion (2 Holders)
Sea Lion Splash
Sarasota Sea Lion Preserve, FL

Northern Fur Seal (5 Holders)
Edmonton Valley Zoo
Mystic Aquarium
New England Aquarium
Seattle Aquarium
Vancouver Aquarium

Guadalupe Fur Seal (1 Holder?)
SeaWorld San Diego?


Phocidae

Harbour Seal (56 Holders)
Alaska Sea Life Center
Alaska Zoo
Assiniboine Park Zoo
Aquarium du Quebec
Aquarium of Niagara
Aquarium of the Pacific
Bahia Resort Hotel?
Blank Park Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Buttonwood Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Columbus Zoo
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
Denver Zoo
Edmonton Valley Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Georgia Aquarium
Gulf World Marine Park, FL
Gulfarium, FL
Henry Vilas Zoo
Jenkinson's Aquarium, NJ
Lincoln Park Zoo, IL
Long Island Aquarium
Los Angeles Zoo
Louisville Zoo
Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Miami Seaquarium
Milwaukee County Zoo
Moody Gardens
Mystic Aquarium
New England Aquarium
New York Aquarium
North Carolina Zoo
Ocean World
Oceans of Fun site 1
Oceans of Fun site 2
Oklahoma City Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Oregon Zoo
Point Defiance Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Sea World Orlando
Sea World San Antonio
Sea World San Diego
Seaside Aquarium
Seattle Aquarium
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, CA
Smithsonian National Zoo
St Louis Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Utah's Hogle Zoo
Vancouver aquarium
Virginia Aquarium

Gray Seal (9-10 Holders)
Aquarium du Quebec?
Aquarium of Niagara
Brookfield Zoo
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
Indianapolis Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo, IL
Long Island Aquarium
Louisville Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoo
Toledo Zoo

Hawaiian Monk Seal (1 Holder)
Minnesota Zoo

Spotted Seal (1-2 Holders)
Alaska SeaLife Center?
Mystic Aquarium

Harp Seal (1-2 Holders)
Aquarium du Quebec?
SeaWorld Orlando

Ringed Seal (2 Holders)
Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaWorld San Diego

Northern Elephant Seal (1 Holder)
Pittsburg Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Odobenidae

Walrus (6 Holders)
Aquarium du Quebec
Indianapolis Zoo
Marineland Canada
Sea World Orlando
Sea World San Diego
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, CA
Click to expand...
When using USDA reports, I recommend you make to verify each listing from an outside source. I suspect pinnipeds are probably one of the more accurate groups though.

Milwaukee keeps California Sea Lion.

"Oceans of Fun" means Milwaukee County Zoo, so any listings of there can just be changed to Milwaukee County Zoo.
 
birdsandbats said:
When using USDA reports, I recommend you make to verify each listing from an outside source. I suspect pinnipeds are probably one of the more accurate groups though.

Milwaukee keeps California Sea Lion.

"Oceans of Fun" means Milwaukee County Zoo, so any listings of there can just be changed to Milwaukee County Zoo.
Click to expand...
I went through most of the listings for the rarer species, as those are the most likely to be misidentified. Species like California Sea Lions, Harbour Seals, & Gray Seals will most likely be correct, as there isn't much you could mistake them for, so I only went through couple for those
 
One thing that's surprised me looking through USDA for rarer pinnipeds is how many of the unusual species are present in rehab centers and research facilities.
And yes I would expect listings for pinnipeds should be pretty accurate typically, they're more straightforward and also bear additional protections under the MMPA.
 
birdsandbats said:
When using USDA reports, I recommend you make to verify each listing from an outside source. I suspect pinnipeds are probably one of the more accurate groups though.

Milwaukee keeps California Sea Lion.

"Oceans of Fun" means Milwaukee County Zoo, so any listings of there can just be changed to Milwaukee County Zoo.
Click to expand...

It's within the zoo, but it's independently owned and operated so have a separate listing.
 
Dhole dude said:
South American Sea Lion (2 Holders)
Sea Lion Splash
Sarasota Sea Lion Preserve, FL
Click to expand...

This is the listing that surprises me the most. If this is not an incorrect listing, I'd be very curious to know where the sea lions came from. Vagrant rescues? I know Europe has a captive population, but I'm unclear on what the legal situation would be for importing them (and having heard of neither place, that would itself be strange). Does MMPA cover non-native species?
 
Coelacanth18 said:
This is the listing that surprises me the most. If this is not an incorrect listing, I'd be very curious to know where the sea lions came from. Vagrant rescues? I know Europe has a captive population, but I'm unclear on what the legal situation would be for importing them (and having heard of neither place, that would itself be strange). Does MMPA cover non-native species?
Click to expand...
I checked and both places appear to have SA Sea Lions. Not sure where they got them from, though.
 
Coelacanth18 said:
Does MMPA cover non-native species?
Click to expand...

I'm having some difficulty finding a specific answer to this, but it seems so. At the very least US citizens cannot take marine mammals of any kind anywhere on the high seas without permit which would thus apply to various species outside US waters. It is less clear in what fullness it protects species like SA Sealion, West African Manatee, and Marine Otter.
 
Coelacanth18 said:
This is the listing that surprises me the most. If this is not an incorrect listing, I'd be very curious to know where the sea lions came from. Vagrant rescues? I know Europe has a captive population, but I'm unclear on what the legal situation would be for importing them (and having heard of neither place, that would itself be strange). Does MMPA cover non-native species?
Click to expand...

Sarasota's specialty is/was South American. Most, if not all, were rescues. The place was a rescue facility for decades, before the owner opened it to tours in 2019. He unfortunately died at the end of 2019, and I'm not sure what the current status of the facility is.
 
I wish I'd known Sea Lion Splash had a South American Sea Lion, I could gone to see it at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Should we be keeping track of traveling facilities for these threads, though? They can be so hard to keep tabs on.
 
Great Argus said:
One thing that's surprised me looking through USDA for rarer pinnipeds is how many of the unusual species are present in rehab centers and research facilities.
And yes I would expect listings for pinnipeds should be pretty accurate typically, they're more straightforward and also bear additional protections under the MMPA.
Click to expand...

@Great Argus Would you or @TinoPup be able to provide a list of the unusual species ;)
 
Dhole dude said:
South American Sea Lion (2 Holders)
Sea Lion Splash
Sarasota Sea Lion Preserve, FL
Click to expand...
Coelacanth18 said:
This is the listing that surprises me the most. If this is not an incorrect listing, I'd be very curious to know where the sea lions came from. Vagrant rescues? I know Europe has a captive population, but I'm unclear on what the legal situation would be for importing them (and having heard of neither place, that would itself be strange). Does MMPA cover non-native species?
Click to expand...
TinoPup said:
Sarasota's specialty is/was South American. Most, if not all, were rescues. The place was a rescue facility for decades, before the owner opened it to tours in 2019. He unfortunately died at the end of 2019, and I'm not sure what the current status of the facility is.
Click to expand...
Sea Lion Splash is (from this article I'll link below) just the travelling show of the Sarasota Sea Lion Preserve, so they are the same animals.
Sarasota Sea Lion Preserve now open to the public in Myakka City | East County | Your Observer

The South American Sealions are a mix, according to various articles I could find, of beach rescues imported from South America, captive-bred imports, and home-bred animals (one article says that the bull named Bruce was captive-born and is himself the father of animals bred at Sarasota). In the above linked article it says one of the females there was a beach rescue from Puerto Rico after escaping from a show in the Dominican Republic.
 
birdsandbats said:
Does nowhere in Hawaii keep monk seal right now?
Click to expand...

Sea Life Park in Hawaii now has one male monk seal that was at a Long Marine Laboratory in California for many years. Sea Life Park Welcomes Home a Special Hawaiian Monk Seal - Hawaii Magazine

Great Argus said:
Waikiki transferred their monk seal to a research facility in CA.
Click to expand...
He should be returning to the Waikīkī aquarium this summer once the research study is finished. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/09/01/monk-seal-conservation-research/
The total Hawaiian monk seal population is now 2.1
 
African Grey said:
Sea Life Park in Hawaii now has one male monk seal that was at a Long Marine Laboratory in California for many years. Sea Life Park Welcomes Home a Special Hawaiian Monk Seal - Hawaii Magazine


He should be returning to the Waikīkī aquarium this summer once the research study is finished. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/09/01/monk-seal-conservation-research/
The total Hawaiian monk seal population is now 2.1
Click to expand...

They basically just swapped monk seals, that's interesting. That works I suppose!
 
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