Six Flags Great Adventure Welcomes Newborn Sea Lion Pups

Six Flags Great Adventure’s animal care team is celebrating the birth of two female California sea lion pups to two first-time mothers at the Jackson, New Jersey theme park.

Piper, born June 5, and Ridley, born June 18, are both extremely energetic and playful, said Jessica Peranteau, senior supervisor of animal training.

Piper enjoys blowing bubbles into the water and shares a birthday with her father Kenobi, Peranteau said. Her mother Dichali does a great job making sure Piper does not get herself into trouble.

“She has no qualms about sassing the trainers or her mother through vocalizations. She is exploring her independence at an early age,” Peranteau said.

Ridley is the smallest sea lion pup ever born at Six Flags Great Adventure, weighing 15 pounds at birth, Peranteau said. She is also known for being very energetic, and her mother Ella lets the pup have her fun.

Ridley is named after the endangered Ridley sea turtle species because of her unusual flipper movements. The newborn pup often moves her fore flippers side-to-side instead of up-and-down, which reminds her trainers of a sea turtle’s walk.

Sea lion pups are usually not competent swimmer when born, but Ridley’s swimming ability makes her stand out from other pups, Peranteau said.

“She finds sliding down the hill on our stage especially rewarding and fun,” she said.

Both Piper and Ridley are expected to grow between 110 and 220 pounds when they are full grown, according to a Six Flags press release.