Be a Trainer for our Seal Encounter Session!
Our Harbor Seals and Gray Seal are the pride of the Aquarium. Now you can go with our animal caregiver and help with a seal feeding session!
When working with animals, they call the shots. Each encounter is unique and may contain different elements.
Day/Times: Thursdays at 1:30pm
Session = 1.5hr (approx.)
Price
$150*
(Aquarium Members: $135)*
*Must be 10 years or older and reserved 24 hours in advance. All participants must complete waiver prior to adventure. Aquarium admission is not included and is required for the adventure!
Our seals welcome all visitors to the Long Island Aquarium! Located right outside the main entrance, the 800-square foot natural rockscape pool provides a home to our harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and our gray seal (Halichoerus grypus).
Unlike sea lions, harbor seals and gray seals are true seals. They lack the ear flaps that sea lions have, but they are just as beautiful! They spend much of their day either lying around on the shorelines or hunting for fish and marine invertebrates in the sea.
The Long Island Aquarium’s gray seal, Gray Beauty, has a particularly compelling story. She was rescued by the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation. Despite her blindness from cataracts, Gray Beauty was patiently nurtured at the Long Island Aquarium until she was able to comfortably navigate the exhibit on her own.
The Aquarium’s Marine Mammal trainers work with our seals throughout the day. You can stop by anytime to watch the seals perform a variety of training behaviors or you can simply watch them play! Don’t miss the Seal Training & Feed Session each day at 11:30am.
Western Atlantic Harbor Seal
Scientific Name: Phoca vitulina
Weight: 200-250 pounds.
Length: 6 feet. Lifespan: 20-30 years.
Range: Northern Atlantic Ocean.
Habitat: Sandy and rocky coldwater coastlines.
Gray Seal
Scientific Name: Halichoerus grypus
Weight: 300-700 pounds.
Length: 6-7.5feet.
Lifespan: 30-50 years.
Range: Northern Atlantic Ocean.
Habitat: Sandy and rocky cold water coastlines.
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