Two visitors, each weighing over 300-pounds, have made a new home at Mystic Aquarium.
They are Steller sea lions that arrived this month to be part of the Pribilof Islands exhibit of sea lions, northern fur seals and a harbor seal.
The two new pool mates are Eden and Mara.
The female Steller sea lions arrived on the evening of Oct. 23 after flying into Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks from the Vancouver Aquarium.
“We are excited to have Eden and Mara here,” said Lisa Mazzaro, Ph.D., assistant director of research and animal care at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration.
The girls bring new blood to the female Steller population at the aquarium, which is getting older, she said.
The two new residents will be on public display at the aquarium for five years. The animals are on loan to the Mystic facility for research and education, according to an aquarium spokeswoman.
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Eden, 8, weighs in at 330 pounds, while Mara, 5, weighs 312 pounds.
Steller females reach an average weight of 450 to 550 pounds and 9 feet in length, and can live up to 30 years. Mystic Aquarium is one of only four facilities in North America to house Steller sea lions.
