Fresno Sea Lion Cove Exhibit Design

At Sea Lion Cove, part of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, visitors are transported to the California Coast with the sound of crashing waves, salty sea air, barking sea lions, harbor seals and beautiful brown pelicans. The naturalistic setting offers interaction areas including a nose-to-nose viewing window, an above-water viewing area to overlook the entire pool, and a 36-foot long underwater acrylic window to view seals performing playful acrobatics. Keepers make presentations at “the shore” while kids build sandcastles.

Green features include solar panels, water conserving irrigation and a filtration system that sends water through constructed wetlands for bio-filtration before returning to the life support system.

Winner of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Top Honor Exhibit Award.