B-roll of Sono entering Pinniped Cove
The Maritime Aquarium’s newest harbor seal, Sono, reached a new milestone on Sunday, galumphing into Pinniped Cove for the first time with mom, Gracie.
At first, the pup was apprehensive of the new space and textures, but he quickly adjusted – zipping across the length of the pool, diving to new depths, and exploring the habitat’s caves and alcoves.
“We’re very happy with how Sono has developed over the past few weeks,” said Associate Director of Animal Husbandry Rachel Stein. “He’s grown big enough to haul out of the water which makes us confident he is ready to enter Pinniped Cove, yet is still small enough that Gracie will be able to help him make this adjustment.”
As Sono and Gracie get comfortable moving around Pinniped Cove and find places to nurse and sleep, the Aquarium’s other harbor seals will be off exhibit. During this time, the Aquarium’s animal husbandry team will be on-site to ensure the safety of the seals.
While Sono makes this big transition, he may not be visible to guests at all times.
Although Sono is not the first harbor seal pup to be born at the Aquarium, he is the first pup to live in Pinniped Cove, which opened in June 2021. The habitat is eight times larger than the Aquarium’s previous harbor seal habitat, and allows guests to views the seals from three sides and two levels.
Seal training demonstrations will continue daily at their regularly scheduled times – 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. For regular updates on Sono’s growth, follow The Maritime Aquarium on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.