Smart seals surprise behind the scenes
Their camera-soaking acrobatics are well choreographed, but Taronga’s seals and sea lions are no circus acts.
Behind their amphitheatre, along with breathtaking harbor views and 14 marine mammals at the iconic Sydney zoo, there’s more to life than fish.
“We found that when we were able to stimulate their brains… they really thrived,” goalkeeper Michelle Simpson told AAP.
“We have some individuals who don’t even want to fish, they just want to learn.”
The show’s curtain raiser, a long-nosed fur seal named Bondi, was discovered emaciated and mauled by a great white shark at the famous beach in 2013.
“We could see his ribs were moving, his fur was gone, his flesh was gone, and he was literally opening up,” senior goaltender Jose Altuna said.
Bondi owes his life to manuka honey, which veterinarians applied to the wound for weeks in the zoo’s intensive care unit.
The lavish show he’s currently headlining is free for ticket holders, but it’s clear that these wet thespians are worth their considerable weight in gold.
Taronga Zoo, a not-for-profit organisation, reported $14 million in sponsorships, donations and bequests in the 12 months to June 2025.
He thinks popular animal encounters are partly responsible for the $6 million annual increase in sales revenue.
“It is now clearly concrete to make our story public, to make sure that with this research, with this funding, we can achieve this result,” Mr. Altuna said.
“The more visits to Taronga means these types of funding opportunities can flow through certain avenues.”
GPS tracking grants helped turn 10 long-nosed fur seals into roving oceanographers last year, collecting climate, pollution and habitat data from Australia’s east coast.
Overfishing, pollution, and coastal development remain significant threats to marine mammals.
While the zoo’s five Australian sea lions represent a declining population of 10,000, the numbers of California sea lions and Bondi’s long-nosed friends are healthy and growing.
But the lives of these marine mammals, parked tightly by the harbour, could hardly be made better this Sunday on International Seal Day.
“They are here to educate and inspire people 365 days a year, so we want to give them fun, special treats,” Ms Simpson said.
“But yeah, they have a pretty great life.”
