Captive clowns
June 2001

Sea lions at Blackpool zoo.

CAPS is concerned about the keeping of pinnipeds in captivity, in particular the Californian sea lion, commonly seen performing tricks in circuses, zoos and safari parks. Here, we take a look at the lives of captive sea lions.

Sea lions, seals and walruses are pinnipeds - derived from the Latin 'pinna' ('wing') and 'pedis' ('foot').

California sea lions are well known for their intelligence, playfulness and their noisy barking. They are easily recognisable by their large front flippers and it is the presence of these flippers that makes sea lions extremely agile.

However, when it comes to display at the zoo or safari park, you are unlikely to learn much, since, they are often simply portrayed as 'clowns', in completely unnatural environments. The gimmicky nature of these exhibits has sea lions inhabiting pirate ships!

In the wild

California sea lions are, as their name suggests, found off the coast of California but their range is far more extensive. They are found from Vancouver Island, British Columbia in the North, to Mexico in the South. An adult male can reach a huge 1,000lbs in weight and 7 feet in length. Adult females can grow to 350lbs and 6 feet in length.

Hans Pederson's performing seal lions on tour with Chipperfield's Circus.

Remarkably, they are descended from either bear or otter-like creatures that entered the sea millions of years ago. Unlike whales and dolphins, pinnipeds share their time between water and land (or ice), generally hauling out of the water to mate, rest, give birth and moult. Groups of sea lions rest packed closely together at favourite haul out sites. Pups are born in June and July and nurse for 5-6 months, sometimes longer. They are opportunistic feeders, eating squid, octopus, herring, rockfish and mackerel. According to experts, the population is growing steadily, and they are not considered an endangered species. There are about 160,000 in the California population. Including California sea lions breeding in Mexico and the Galapagos sea lion, the total worldwide population is approximately 200,000.

Sea lions are well adapted to their ocean environment; they can easily find food, escape predators, and sense what is going on in their underwater habitat. In addition, they have a complex social structure and modes of communication that we do not entirely understand.

In the U.S., they are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which makes it illegal for unauthorised persons to feed, handle or harass them. For those in captivity, it is a different story.

Zoos & safari parks

When the zoos and safari parks in the UK moved away from keeping performing dolphins, many filled their empty pools with sea lions. Yet, the same arguments, that spelt the demise of dolphinaria, apply to sea lions. They are intelligent, able to learn complex unnatural behaviours, but they are kept in a barren, sterile environment - the chlorinated pool at the zoo does not bear comparison with the ocean. The lives of captive sea lions are severely compromised; in the wild they have complex social lives that cannot be replicated in confinement.

And, there is often no pretence of the sea lions being captive for any other reason than public amusement. Some zoos and safari parks give the visitors a circus type show, with tricks including the ball balanced on the nose, 'flipper' stands, and barking for fish. In the UK, performing sea lions have been used at West Midlands and Knowsley Safari Parks.

Circuses

A sea lion in the trailer tank with the barely larger outdoor tank to the right.

According to the Veterinary Requirements of the Association of Circus Proprietors, sea lions should not be travelled, and if kept in permanent sites, they should be provided with swimming water, which is changed daily or filtered, and at least one metre deep.

This was ignored in 1994 when Hans Pederson brought his sea lions to the UK. Stopped on the motorway, his vehicle was impounded because it was unroadworthy. The police found five sea lions in a tank in the trailer. The police called the fire brigade who filled the tank with water. Hans Pederson explained that he was en route to Chipperfield's Circus, which was in Thirsk, and would lose the contract if he did not arrive within 48 hours. The press contacted Chipperfield's Circus who said, 'We haven't got any sea lions in the circus this year so all I can imagine is that he was hoping for an interview with us.' Strangely, Pedersen's sea lions had appeared with the circus the previous month. Pederson was fined and rejoined Chipperfield's Circus.

The sea lion act was back on tour with Chipperfield's Circus in 1996, albeit reduced to four sea lions. An Animal Defenders' Field Officer worked undercover with the circus at the time, noting that for 80% of the time the sea lions were kept in a converted lorry with a tiny pool inside. They might also get a small outside pool, but not if there was difficulty getting water. Because of low water pressure at a site, the sea lions were without their outside pool for 15 days. On one occasion, two of the sea lions, which did not perform, escaped from the lorry during the performance. They wandered across the circus site and into the ring, where some chaos ensued, although Pedersen continued with the show.

Pier 39

Perhaps the world's most famous haul out for sea lions is in San Francisco Bay, where at the end of Pier 39, hundreds of sea lions can be found having their own noisy bachelor party - about 85-95% of all the California sea lions at Pier 39 are males. The sea lions are viewed from the Pier by thousands of tourists throughout the year.

Sea lions at Pier 39 - just doing what they like.

California sea lions have always frequented the San Francisco Bay, especially during the winter months when herring spawn there. Experts believe this is a popular haul out because there is plenty of food nearby, their natural predators (great white sharks and orcas) do not come into the Bay, and there is plenty of space. The Marine Mammal Centre, based in Sausalito states that the docks are easier to haul out on, more comfortable and protected from storms than a rocky beach. As the tide goes in and out, the docks move up and down, so the sea lions just keep sleeping rather than having to scramble up and down rocks with the tide!

The Pier 39 sea lions are a major attraction and always draw a crowd. The sea lions just do what's natural, barking, snoozing, and nudging each other off the platforms. They don't balance balls on their noses and they aren't poked and prodded into performing. People stand and watch, generally for longer than the average time they spend flitting by zoo exhibits. They leave having witnessed a remarkable spectacle, and with the privilege of being that little bit closer to nature. And the sea lions, well, they just do what they like.