Welcome To The Family!

7/10/13

Talise's Big Adventure

Over the past 11 weeks our sweet Talise has conquered many feats. This past week, Talise conquered our 18-foot pool like a star! Before reaching this big milestone, Talise had to become comfortable in our 6-foot holding pools. Talise also met all of her other pool mates and began to form relationships with each seal and sea lion. It was important for Talise to be comfortable around all of her flippered friends before entering the big pool to help ensure that she would feel as secure as possible in her new environment. Colby, our 1-year-old juvenile sea lion has proven to be a great playmate for Talise.

Once the trainers at Ocean Connections were confident in Talise’s swimming ability, it was time to open the gate to a brand new world of fun! It took just moments and some coaxing from her mother Sonoma for Talise to leave the comfort of the holding pool and venture into the deep blue! Funny enough Sonoma, who has turned into an outstanding mother, decided she was not to sure about Talise exploring the big pool. Sonoma was at Talise’s side the whole time and worked hard to persuade our little pup to stay on land by playing with her and strategically positioning herself convincing Talise to nurse. We all quickly learned that it was not only Talise's comfort which had to develop but moms too! Since that first day out in the main pool, Sonoma has become more comfortable and each day allows Talise to dive deeper and explore her new playground!

Over the next few months, Talise will continue to explore the main pool and be exposed to the show atmosphere. This is all part of her informal training with us! Be sure to come out this summer and visit us, and you may get a chance to watch Talise’s playful antics - she's sure to delight you!

5/29/13

Let's get swimming!

The past five weeks have been full of nursing, growing and exploring for our little Talise. At birth, sea lion pups do not know how to swim. In the wild they learn to explore the water on sandy beaches with slopes allowing them easy access and exit opportunities. Our deep pool is not so simple to climb out of, so over the past two weeks, our trainers have been teaching Talise how to swim and exit the pool comfortably - it truly is a learning process! We first introduced Talise to a small baby pool where she explored shallow waters and learned how to hold her breath. Once she was comfortable in the baby pool, we began doing swim lessons in our 6-foot deep holding pool. Here, she is working on mastering the art of maneuvering through the water while holding her breathe for longer periods of time building comfort in her aquatic environment. During these lessons, it has become quite clear just how much Talise loves the water! Her trust in our trainers has also become very apparent, as she prefers us in the water with her at all times. In working with her everyday our goal is to help build her strength and confidence in the water! In no time, Talise will be frolicking in our 18-foot deep pool with the other seals and sea lions!

Just as the past 5 weeks have been full of new experiences for Talise, they have also been full of learning experiences for her mother Sonoma and the staff and trainers at Ocean Connections. In the wild, it is not uncommon for first time mothers to be uncertain of how to care for their youngster; Sonoma was no exception. Learning proper mothering skills has not come naturally to Sonoma and trainers have had to step in to assist and help Sonoma develop nurturing skills. Our goals have not only included ensuring Talise's health, but also building Sonoma's skill set for success with future pups. It's an ongoing challenge but both Sonoma and Talise are getting the hang of it! Even Auntie Makaia has played a part in nurturing and caring for Talise, nursing the little pup in times of need! 24-hour care is all part of the responsibility we take so seriously in caring for these animals. As Talise grows stronger each day, we all smile knowing the role we are playing in her success!

4/19/13

It's a girl!!!!
We have a new family member! Early on Wednesday morning, April 17, 2013 at 12:06am Sonoma, a 12 year old female California sea lion gave birth to her first pup at Ocean Connections. The female pup came into the world at 12:06am weighing 17 pounds and measuring 72 cm in length. We haven't named our little arrival yet as she has been keeping us plenty busy, but we thought it important to share her story! 

It is not uncommon for first time mothers to lack or be uncertain of the skills needed to successfully give birth, and nurse and nurture their first pup. In the wild, this is called "survival of the fittest" and commonly, these first-time pups don't survive. This week when Sonoma had a challenging first labor, her uncertainty towards nurturing quickly became apparent to the Ocean Connections staff. One of the advantages of caring for these animals in zoological environments is the ability to intervene and assist the mother and pup in becoming successful. When Sonoma failed to nurse her pup, the Ocean Connections trainers and veterinary teams swung into action, providing 24 hour care for the new arrival.

Monitoring, creating a successful pup formula, feeding and caring for newborns requires extensive training and time. Babies are always a great deal of work but it is clear that our dedication is paying off! This little pup required around the clock care and feedings every four hours. Trainers not only cared for the pup, but worked with Sonoma and Aunt Makaia to encourage bonding and pup nurturing. Although initially uncertain about her new endeavor, the past 24 hours have resulted in Sonoma's development as a mother. It's hard to determine why, but pup abandonment may be a result of inexperience, exhaustion, a difficult labor or bonding may just require time. Regardless, Sonoma has successfully learned and taken on the role of motherhood and today began nursing and protecting her pup - exactly what we want to see! The first few days of any life are critical. We are thrilled at the progress and success currently occurring between mother and pup. We're still under 24 hour care but the road ahead looks bright for our new family member!