A new visitor outreach program has been organized by Pier 39, the Bay Institute, the Aquarium of the Bay and the Marine Mammal Center, which will station a naturalist on the Pier to answer questions regarding the sea lions. The interpreter will be employeed by the aquarium and trained by experts from the Marine Mammal Center to discuss the sea lions habitat, protection and life.
In February of this year many tourists and Pier 39 businesses wondered why the sea lions disappeared from the specially designated docks of Pier 39 and were relieved when the animals began showing up again a few months later. It is now believed that the animals migrated to the Oregon coast due to lack of food in the Bay Area. This event caused many local organizations, including the Aquarium of the Bay, to create a forum for open discussions regarding the sea lions. Many experts hope that discussions between the onsite naturalists and tourists will increase the number of people interested in saving the animal’s habitat.
