Sally promptly returned to her enclosure with two other sea lions. The zoo was closed on Saturday.
In dry weather, the sea lions at the Central Park Zoo. Sally, one of the zoo’s sea lions, briefly escaped from the pool where she is housed on Friday during the torrential rain. (Source: The New York Times)
Sea Lion Sally in Central Park Zoo Explores as it Escapes from the Pool
Due to extreme weather in New York, Central Park Zoo sea lion Sally had a field day. The creature escaped her enclosure when heavy rain flooded her pool. After swimming out of the flooded pool and roaming around Friday, the sea lion returned to her enclosure with two other sea lions, according to Jim Breheny, executive vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Zoos and Aquarium. Breheny said the female sea lion never left her habitat and was always visible to zoo staff. Breheny said zoo personnel watched the sea lion explore before returning to the pool and the other two sea lions. The Central Park Zoo closed on September 26 due to severe rain and floods. After the water retreated, Breheny said the sea lions returned to their habitat. “No staff or visitors were in danger and the sea lion never left the zoo’s secondary perimeter,” Breheny said.
The National Weather Service said that JFK airport had received almost 8 inches of rain by Friday evening, causing flash flooding in New York City. Central Park had over 5 inches of rain. Deaths were not reported. One of four zoos and one aquarium closed due to severe weather was Central Park Zoo, a 6.5-acre zoo in the southeast corner of Central Park. Breheny closed the Bronx Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and New York Aquarium “so staff could focus on the animals and our facilities during the storm.” He said, “Animal care staff will continue to monitor the situation throughout the weather event.” The NYPD Central Park Precinct reported on September 29 that the Central Park Zoo “remains closed due to the heavy rain & flooding.” They have not announced its reopening date.
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