Pupdates | Sea Lion Pup Updates | Atlantis Paradise Island

What's Up Pups?

Welcome to our Pup-dates page, where we will be posting the latest adventures of Karaya and Zemi – our California sea lion pups. Dolphin Cay welcomed the pups in June of 2021 and they’re growing up quickly!

Be sure to check back regularly to follow their progress as they grow up and learn to explore.

March 2024 Update

Currently, the pups, Zemi and Karaya, are making remarkable progress in their training. Zemi has grown significantly and now weighs 160 lbs, a 30% increase since last year. He is filled with enthusiasm to work with the team, showcasing boundless energy and displaying a love for jumping and flipping.

Both Zemi and Karaya have been exhibiting prosocial behaviors by interacting with both older female and male sea lions. Karaya, who now weighs 125 lbs, has seen a 25% increase in weight since last year. Interestingly, she has a preference for fish that isn't too cold.

In terms of their favorite foods, both Zemi and Karaya have a liking for anchovies and sardines. They successfully weaned from their mothers at around the age of 1. Karaya, in particular, enjoys attention from her trainers, relishes enrichment toys, and eagerly strives to be the first one out during their activities.

July 2022 Update

Our sea lion pups are celebrating their first birthdays this month, Zemi on June 21, and Karaya on June 23. The Dolphin Cay sea lion team created special fishy ice cakes to celebrate this pup milestone.

April 2022 Update

Both pups are showing off their athletic skills playing with their toys throughout the day, as well as engaging with each other and their trainers more than ever. Zemi, the male pup, weighs 81 pounds, while the female pup, Karaya, is a little smaller than her brother at 57 pounds. The pups are starting to become more independent and are learning how to participate in their health care exams and other training behaviors. Zemi is more confident, and happy to follow his favorite toy (the hose) to the scale and back to the pool. Karaya is a little more hesitant but follows her mom, Moxy, once she showed her how to get on the scale. Both pups enjoyed their ice and some of their favorite fishy treats, herring and capelin.

January 2022 Update

GROWING UP SO FAST

Both pups are starting to wean from their mother’s milk,
an important milestone for any sea lion pup. Karaya
and Zemi are offered a variety of foods including
small herring, caplin and squid – So far, the pups have
been experimenting, but Zemi seems to
really like herring.

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GROWING UP SO FAST

The process takes a few months as Karaya and Zemi
transition to a higher nutrient, whole food diet that will
help them grow big and strong. Karaya currently
weighs 46 pounds and Zemi weighs around 64 pounds.
They will grow to an average of 100-120 pounds over
the next year.

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GROWING UP SO FAST

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GROWING UP SO FAST

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November 2021 Update

FIRST DEEP-WATER SWIM!

Did you know sea lions are born on land and have
to learn to swim? Over several weeks, our sea lion pups
Karaya and Zemi learned the basics in a small "pup" pool.

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FIRST DEEP-WATER SWIM!

Once they got the hang of it, their moms Moxie and
Saman introduced them to the big pool with much
deeper water. Their reactions are priceless.

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FIRST DEEP-WATER SWIM!

Did you know sea lions are born on land and have
to learn to swim? Over several weeks, our sea lion pups
Karaya and Zemi learned the basics in a small "pup" pool.

1/2

FIRST DEEP-WATER SWIM!

Once they got the hang of it, their moms Moxie and
Saman introduced them to the big pool with much
deeper water. Their reactions are priceless.

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