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Sea lions Luci, Ady, Gunnison, and Maverick are back and living it up in their brand-new state-of-the-art habitat, with our final flippered friend, Nick, set to return this fall. These playful pinnipeds aren’t just back—they’re back in style with a habitat that’s unlike anything you’ve experienced before. Schlessman Shores, with a beach area and beautiful façade of vibrant, colorful row homes, reflects the real-life communities where sea lions and people coexist. And that’s just above the surface.
The Gene N. Koelbel Underwater Viewing area offers guests an incredible view of sea lions gliding, diving, and darting through their new saltwater pool. It’s your front-row seat to their incredible underwater acrobatics—and a chance to connect with the species like never before.
Of course, the biggest upgrades might be the ones you don’t see. When construction kicked off in early 2024, we realized the old 30-year-old infrastructure needed a total overhaul. Now, a fully modernized aquatic habitat designed with every detail in mind—right down to the salt in the water. The new system includes heated pools, efficient saltwater filtration that cuts water turnover time in half, and behind-the-scenes pools that help maintain healthy skin, eyes, and coats. Bonus: it also saves more than 2 million gallons of water each year. The Anschutz Foundation Sea Lion Island also features expanded bedrooms and private pools—giving our Animal Care team more flexibility to support each sea lion’s unique social, emotional, and medical needs.
And our care for the species extends far beyond our campus. Just this spring, 10 of our staff members, from Animal Care Specialists to Clinical Veterinarians, traveled to California to help rescue sick and stranded sea lions during the worst toxic algae bloom on record. Working with the Marine Mammal Rescue Center, they helped save hundreds of animals affected by domoic acid exposure—a heartbreaking reminder of the challenges wild sea lions face.
None of this would be possible without our generous supporters. Thanks to incredible gifts from the Koelbel Family Foundation, the Anschutz Foundation, the Schlessman Family Foundation, the Kintzele Family, Jenna and Walker Stapleton—and so many others—we raised over $5.5 million to bring this habitat to life. But there’s still one important piece we need your help with: the final stretch of the sea lions’ journey home.
Getting five sea lions safely to DZCA is no small task. In total, over $23,000 was spent to make their homecoming possible, including:
- $11,700 to transport four sea lions this spring
- $5,700 for Nick’s return this fall
- $1,500 per staff member to accompany and care for the animals in transit
If you’ve ever laughed at a sea lion’s bark or watched a pup do barrel rolls beneath the waves, you know what this means. These moments matter. And they’re made possible by people like you. Your donation—of any amount—will go directly toward the costs of bringing these beloved animals home and ensuring they thrive in the care they deserve.
