Marina has given birth, bringing the number of sea lions at the Rio Grande Zoo to seven, the zoo's curator of mammals said.
The pup was born at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday in temporary quarters behind the sea lion exhibit, said Kent Newton. Officials have not yet been able to get close enough to determine the baby's sex."It looks strong and healthy at this point," Kent Newton said. "However, we are reserving judgment on its survivability because in the past, Marina did not take care of her offspring."
Newton said zoo personnel will raise the pup if Marina rejects it, as she did with three others born at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City.
The Hogle Zoo donated three sea lions when Albuquerque's zoo opened its $1.3 million, 340,000-gallon sea lion exhibit last October.
Newton said the Albuquerque exhibit pool is larger and has more holding areas than Hogle Zoo. That should make it easier for Marina to raise her baby, he said.
Also, Newton said he and zoo director John Moore, along with other members of the zoo staff, have experience raising sea lions.
Zoo officials suspected Marina was pregnant when she arrived about eight months ago. She was moved to temporary quarters for the birth.