Seal Cove Feeding

See California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals at the Seal Cove exhibit, located across from Sea Lion Stadium.

What is notable about our sea lions is they are primarily rescued animals that were deemed non-releasable even after being rehabilitated at the Marine Mammal Center. They have thrived here at the park and are great ambassadors of their species, alongside our harbor seals.

Do you know the differences between seals and sea lions?

Here at the park, our California sea lions share an exhibit with Pacific harbor seals and if you didn’t know how different seals and sea lions were before, you can see the stark differences immediately when they’re side by side.

Unlike seals, sea lions have prominent external ear flaps and long fore flippers – with a bone structure similar to a human arm and hand, and they can move on land as well as water – their hind flippers rotate forward, allowing them to walk on “all fours.” They also use their large fore flippers to propel themselves when swimming. Sea lions communicate through vocalization, including barking, growling and grunting, and specific vocalizations between mother and pup.

Seals, on the other hand, lack an external ear flap, but have an opening to the ear canal that provides them with a keen sense of hearing. Seals have short fore flippers and have hind flippers that extend directly behind the plump body. When on land, harbor seals move like inchworms, but they swim gracefully underwater.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has helped to rehabilitate rescued or stranded pups and adults in partnership with the Marine Mammal Center and the National Marine Fisheries. Support The Marine Mammal Center and its programs to rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured marine mammals, and other similar marine mammal facilities.