The wording on the back of this post card label's these as "Black sea lions." Isn't that normally a given if they are wet, Jim A? :)
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Jacksonville Free Zoo
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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True. There are some species of sea lions that are a little lighter in color, even when wet, but I've never heard any of them refered to as "black" sea lions.
The design of the sea lion exhibit is pretty common. Round building the animals might go in but they could climb to then roof and dive in. Probably no shifting facility for animal management. Sea lions where relatively cheap and easy to acquire and were often treated as almost disposable -- until 1972 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Jim,
In these "common" type of sea lion exhibit/buildings I have often wondered at the "steps" that all seemed to adapt for the sea lions to get to the top. They would seem to be difficult and an easier type could have been found. Or was the purpose to allow various animals to lay at various levels on "shelves." If we study the history of animal keeping/husbandry, with no disrespect to folks/institutions involved we find dozens of animals, including the sacred elephant that were "relatively cheap and easy to acquire and were often treated as almost disposable." It makes all protection act's seem like the only solution. Some would suggest that it has made it hard for people to get animals. I would suggest it has only made it hard for nitwit's who couldn't afford or shouldn't have had the animals in the first place.
Wade
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