Rescued Sea Lions Set To Make Debut At Tulsa Zoo

Two rescued California sea lions are scheduled to make their debut at the Tulsa Zoo this week a news release says. It says three-year-old Reyes and four-year-old Cisco arrived at the zoo in 2013 from the Marine Mammal Center in southern California.

Cisco and Reyes nearly lost their lives just off the coast of California, the release says. Reyes lost his eye due to an infection and Cisco had an injury from a shark that could have caused him to lose his mobility.

The two sea lions were rescued by the Marine Mammal Center and nursed back to health, but because of their injuries, they could not be released back into the wild the release says.

Cisco and Reyes then arrived at the Tulsa Zoo in 2013. The two went through a standard quarantine period and Helmerich Sea Lion Cove underwent exhibit modifications to make it suitable for the new residents.

The release says the two will be on exhibit for a few hours a day while they get used to their new home. They will alternate being in the main exhibit with the zoo's third sea lion, 21-year-old Dorsey, according to the release.