On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, NAUSICAA, France’s Sealife Centre in Boulogne sur Mer, welcomes two new sea lions. Aged nearly two years old, Max and Moritz were born in Germany and recently joined the other five resident sea lions in NAUSICAA’s Californian Reserve.

Max and Moritz, were born at the zoo in Gelsenkirchen in Germany and will be 2 years old in June, they weigh about 50 kg each. None of the sea lions were taken from the wild. They all come from zoos in Europe (Germany, Belgium, Holland), where they were born in captivity. The sea lion is a protected species by the Washington Convention.

All seven sea lions are Californian (Zalophus californianus). The Californian sea lion lives, as its name suggests, on the west coast ofAmericain thePacific Ocean.  In the wild, sea lions live in harems, each with up to eight females, which the male defends by attacking other males. Consequently NAUSICAA has decided to take-in just one male.

Various activities throughout the day are undertaken for their welfare by their trainers. For example for their health, they brush their teeth, listen to their heartbeat, and treat minor wounds, or even do an x-ray or ultrasound. NAUSICAA is renowned worldwide for its medical training and has received various awards for its work. Other working sessions include physical exercise (e.g. jumping ...) which takes places twice a day and open to visitors.