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PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is welcoming the latest member of its family, a California sea lion pup!
Kelilah the sea lion gave birth to a pup on June 10 and the zoo says both mom and the baby are doing well.
The pup is named “Smiley” after the famous Eat’n Park cookies.
“We like to make people smile, and sea lions are pretty good at that, too! ‘Smiley’ seemed like the perfect name to share with the new pup,” said Eat’n Park’s Kevin O’Connell.
One Smiley and her mother get more acclimated the zoo’s veterinary team will examine it and find out the pup’s gender.
“The next big challenge for Smiley will be when Kelilah begins the first swimming lessons in a couple of weeks,” says Henry Kacprzyk, curator of Kids Kingdom.
Swimming starts when the pup is a couple of weeks old.
A sea lion’s gestation period is usually around 11 months and pup
Are normally born in the summer when more food is available.
Pups are born dark brown or black but will fade to a lighter brown in a couple weeks.
Sea lions are already well developed by the time they are born being able to move, scratch and groom themselves.
Visitors to the zoo can see Smiley in her exhibit now.