On an Abbott Oceanarium visit, you might see California sea lions Laguna, Cruz or Charger zooming around Grainger Sea Lion Cove. Other times you might see Tanner stretched out for a nap. Even when you can’t see them, you can hear these aquatic predators throughout the Pacific Northwest exhibit when they start vocalizing — and living up to their common name. These guys get along great, but they’d get testy if there were a female to trigger their territoriality, so Shedd’s colony of sea lions remains all male.
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Tanner the sea lion, estimated to be in his 20s.
Tanner
Tanner is the largest and oldest sea lion at Shedd, weighing in at around 600 pounds and estimated to be in his 20s. He got a second chance at life when he was rescued and came to the aquarium in 2012.
Named for Tanner Creek, near the Columbia River where he was found, he was part of a government effort to relocate or remove sea lions from the Bonneville Dam area since the animals were unintentionally overfishing endangered Chinook salmon. Tanner was marked by a brand on his back — CO11 — so Washington wildlife officials could keep a close eye. Despite several attempts to relocate this persistent salmon-loving sea lion, Tanner continued to return to the dam. Together, federal officials and the marine mammal community collaborated to find sea lions, like Tanner, a suitable home in accredited aquariums and zoos.
Here at Shedd, Tanner receives all the nutrition and care he needs. He is mild-mannered and plays well with his sea lion companions. When he is in his habitat in the Abbott Oceanarium, you may catch him lounging on the rocks, stretched out for a nap.
Using his whiskers and keen directional hearing, Cruz quickly learned his way around the sea lion areas.
Cruz
In 2012, when Cruz was about a year old and living in the waters off Santa Cruz, California, someone shot him — an illegal but not uncommon practice on the West Coast, where the numerous marine mammals are perceived as competitors by some commercial fishermen. The pup was found washed up on a beach, with gunshot wounds in his face and eyes.
His life was saved at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, but the now totally blind pup needed a permanent home where he could receive lifelong care. Shedd was the perfect match, with the facilities, expert caretakers and sea lion companions for the youngster.
Using his whiskers and keen directional hearing, Cruz quickly learned his way around the sea lion areas, apparently mapping the topography in his head. Just as the pup adapted to his new surroundings, his caretakers adapted their methods to work with a sightless animal. Instead of hand signals and other visual cues, they rely entirely on audible and tactile cues: a training whistle, a rattle target, a gentle touch and, of course, words. Cruz’s lack of vision hasn’t slowed him down, and he interacts and holds his own with the other sea lions. He also takes part in the Animal Spotlights.
Despite a difficult start in life, Laguna is healthy, a quick learner and a mischievous playmate for Cruz.
Laguna
Rescued and rehabilitated animals get a second chance at life. Laguna was lucky enough to get a third. On Jan. 9, 2013, he was found stranded and malnourished on Laguna Beach on the California coast. He was in the first wave of more than 1,400 starving sea lion pups that overwhelmed California rescue centers that year in what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) called an unusual mortality event, or UME. Many pups died. But after intensive care, Laguna was healthy enough to be released March 21 with a bright orange flipper ID tag. Six weeks later, however, he had stranded again.
Because of the flipper tag, rescuers could see that the emaciated pup had been rescued before, access his medical history and make the determination that he most likely would not survive if returned to the ocean again. During the UME, Shedd let the network of California rescue centers know that we could provide a home to a young male sea lion if one could not be released. Once Laguna had gone through rehabilitation again, he was on a jet bound for Chicago. Despite a difficult start in life, Laguna is healthy, a quick learner and a mischievous playmate for Cruz.
Charger is fitting in well with the sea lion colony.
Charger
Charger, a 3-year-old male sea lion, arrived at Shedd in August 2022 from his former home at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C. Charger is the son of Tanner and was born at a zoological facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). At about 230 pounds at the time of his arrival, Charger is still growing! Male sea lions can grow to about 1,000 pounds. He shows early signs of confidence even as he explores his new environment and caretakers.
Kenney was the youngest sea lion in Shedd's history upon his arrival in 2022.
Kenney
Kenney is the youngest sea lion in Shedd’s history, arriving at just 3 months old in August 2022. He was sired by Charger, which means that Shedd has three generations of sea lions in our herd! The pup was rejected by his mother, causing him to need hand-rearing for the best chance of survival.
Shedd’s animal care team continues to provide hands-on care to ensure he grows and meets important sea lion milestones. Since his arrival he was successfully weaned from formula and introduced to a variety of fish for the first time. He continues to socialize with his caretakers at Shedd, meet and interact with the other sea lions and participate in early training and enrichment sessions.