Blackpool Zoo’s new sea lion pup is a real mummy’s girl

Second time mum Anya gave birth to the new female pup, who hasn’t been given a name yet, and has been very protective of her since.

Spending most of her time with her mum, the pup has been keeping a low profile near the rocks and coming out from time to time to be fed.

A spokesman for Blackpool Zoo, said: “This is the first sea lion pup that we have welcomed this year and we are delighted.

“We have a breeding group and the pup was fathered by Elmo, who is the new pup’s dad.

“Anya is well known to the people of Blackpool and they will remember that she gave birth to Niko, her first baby in 2012.

“We haven’t decided on a name yet as the keepers like to see what type of personality the new pup has and then from its characteristics, we decide a name from there.

“It can be difficult to know if the mum is pregnant as sea lions are quite thick and they have a layer of fat around them.

“But the keepers can usually tell in the last couple of months that they are pregnant.”

But this isn’t the only exciting news for the Zoo this year. Tiger cubs Barney and Radzi celebrated their first birthday this month and the Zoo’s oldest female orangutan, Vicky, at 30, successfully underwent double surgery, who suffered with severe congestion, caused by chronic sinusitis and air sacculitis.

The Zoo has also been busy preparing for the arrival of three new adult sea lions from Spain who have just joined the colony.