If you've visited the Zoo's Adventure Cove region, odds are you've seen this face! Meet Sunshine, a 3-year-old female California sea lion with a big personality.
Sunshine was born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on June 25, 2020, and is one of 14 pinnipeds who call Adventure Cove home, including 10 California sea lions and four harbor seals.
Since the beginning, Sunshine's mom, Lovell, has had a strong bond with her Care team which allowed her trainers to work very closely with both her and Sunshine. Keeper Katelyn Nance, said, "By nature, young sea lions are very curious and are very observant with their surroundings. But Sunshine has always been extra curious and confident with people."
And it’s true...Sunshine is very inquisitive and loves enrichment, exploring her environment, and training! Sunshine is currently working with her trainers so they can provide enrichment and training while standing in the region's 360 acrylic tunnel, which also welcomes thousands of guests daily. "Sunshine is learning this particularly fast because it is so natural to her. All our animals have their strengths, but Sunshine in particular seems to be highly intelligent,” Nance said.
Out of all of the Zoo's pinnipeds, Sunshine is the most interactive with guests. The Wild Encounters– Pinniped team provides all of the animals in their care with various forms of enrichment, both in their public-facing habitats and behind the scenes. Sunshine seems to prefer enrichment opportunities that guests are able to give to her because each guest is new, different, and interesting to her, and guests and staff will often bring toys to play with her throughout the day. Pinniped Supervisor, Shea Eaves, described the importance of allowing the pinnipeds to interact with the public through the glass.
"The animals are always free to choose how, if, and when they want to interact with Zoo guests. These moments provide wonderful enrichment and stimulation for the animals in our care. Even if they choose not to actively participate in play, their environment is still enriched by all the people that come through the tunnel each day."
In addition to the benefits that the animals receive, these interactions also play important roles in actualizing the Wild Encounters’ team focus: To dive into the Columbus Zoo’s mission of Empowering People. Saving Wildlife. "Every day, we work to provide moments that will connect our guests with our animals, and hopefully inspire them to want to learn more and make impactful changes in their lives that will positively affect wild animals in wild spaces," Eaves said.
Sunshine's interactions with the public is just one of the many ways that the Columbus Zoo is able to provide people with the opportunity to make impactful connections with the animals in our care. Eaves said, "Knowing that our animals might inspire the next generation of zookeepers is something that we are all extremely proud of."
Visit Sunshine, and the other animals who call Adventure Cove home, during your next visit to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
