Contact: Jason Jacobs
323/644-4273

Male seal to take up residence with four females

WHO: Alfred, a blind adult male harbor seal and four female seals
WHAT: Alfred’s Zoo debut with a special feeding and training session
WHEN: Friday, January 18, 2008 at 9:30 A.M. Sharp
WHERE: Sea Life Cliffs at the Los Angeles Zoo

Alfred, a blind male harbor seal was discovered on the shores of Cape May Point, New Jersey on March 3, 2007.   Besides being blind he was underweight most likely due to his inability to capture fish.  He was brought to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, New Jersey where staff was amazed that besides the obvious blindness there was no other medical problem.  Due to his blindness he was deemed as non-releasable.  The staff of the Marine Mammal Center went about searching for a home for Alfred.  The Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey suggested the Los Angeles Zoo.

Alfred took up residence at the Zoo in late October, and after a quarantine and acclimation period, will make his Zoo debut in the Sea Life Cliffs habitat tomorrow with the four resident female harbor seals.  The Zoo hopes to breed Alfred with the females as his blindness should not inhibit his ability to mate. Several species on display at the Zoo are non-releasable rehabilitated animals including Alfred and several brown pelicans. 

Harbor seals are pinnipeds, a group of Marine Mammals that includes seals, sea lions, and walrus.  Harbor seals can weigh between 290 and 370 lbs and are five to six feet long.  They are a widespread species found in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.  Harbor seals eat a highly varied diet of fish, octopus and squid.  In the water, they assume a posture known as “bottling”: the seal’s body remains submerged, but the face pokes above the surface like a snorkel allowing the animal to breathe regularly while sleeping or resting. 

NOTE TO MEDIA: Please RSVP if you plan on attending the feeding and training demonstration. Plan on arriving at the Zoo before 9:30 A.M. and park in the Zoo’s main lot.  Proceed to ticket booth #11 at admissions to enter the Zoo. The seals are within walking distance of the ticket booth. The seal keepers will be available for interviews.

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The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 2 to 12. The Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For general information, call 323/644-4200.