Photo: JShadab1/Twitter.
Says the NY Post, “A sea lion enjoyed a brief taste of freedom as she hitched a ride on floodwaters and swam out of her Central Park Zoo pool enclosure on Friday.”
Once upon a time, I was a kid who shared a crowded bedroom with two younger brothers. As the oldest, I was often relied on to help out — for example, by keeping the younger ones from wandering when they were supposed to go to sleep. And I did like telling them stories.
My series about a seal called Sammy who left the zoo at night for adventures but always came back in the morning must have meant something important to me because there were many episodes.
Sammy’s escape was different from Sally the Sea Lion’s in today’s story because Sammy had a secret place in the bottom of the tank where he went in and out, and he stayed away all night. Sally, on the other hand, merely took advantage of yesterday’s flooding to swim out the top of her enclosure for a brief look around and then go home.
I guess she was used to hanging out with the other sea lions there, her friends. I know what my hairdresser would think about this. She has almost convinced me that zoos are wrong. I think Tracie would let all the animals out if there were a way to do it safely.
Claire Fahy reports at the New York Times, “A female sea lion, known as Sally, escaped from her enclosure at the Central Park Zoo briefly on Friday, swimming out of the pool where she is kept when the heavy rains lashing New York City flooded the zoo grounds.
“Workers monitored Sally’s movements as she explored the area around the enclosure before rejoining the zoo’s other two sea lions in the pool, said Jim Breheny of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Zoos and Aquarium, which oversees four zoos and the city’s aquarium.
“By 3 p.m., the water at the zoo had receded, and all animals were contained in their enclosures, Mr. Breheny said. No staff members were in danger during the storm, and the city’s four zoos were closed so that employees could focus on keeping animals safe.
“For Karen Dugan and her colleagues at the city’s parks department, the roving sea lion made for a rare sight from their third-floor offices in the agency’s headquarters at the Arsenal, a building inside the park that overlooks the zoo.” More at the Times, here.
What does an animal escaping the zoo mean to you?
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
I am not a fan of zoos, either. Interesting that Sally came back. Those floods are something else, aren’t they? Holy cats, what a summer! Love the idea of your sweet seal story.
Wish I could recall something about Sammy Seal’s actual adventures. Doubtless, problem-solving things.
First, I’m fascinated that you invented Sammy the Seal for your brothers, and have zero recollection of you sharing a bedroom with them. I guess that’s why you had such a wonderful play room!
Zoos offend our sense that everyone should be free. I totally agree in theory, but they serve an important role in maintaining a population of endangered species. Modern zoos are attuned to trying to recreate animals’ natural habitat. I think Sally is a case in point—she went back to the enclosure.
I remember the wonder of meeting an elephant and feeding it a peanut when I was about 4, and watching the animals pace at the Bear Mountain Zoo. They weren’t happy animals, and such places shouldn’t exist (though the education I got at Bear. Mountain was excellent). Then watch a couple of episodes of The Zoo on Animal Planet, and you’ll see an enlightened picture of modern zoos.
Hannah
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Thanks so much for a very thoughtful comment and for the advice on watching Animal Planet’s “The Zoo.”
I like zoos, I think that most of the zoos are there for the animals, now circus animals that I don’t care for.
When the children were all at home , the children find an injured owl. I had no idea how to care it , so we took it to the local zoo. They were very happy to care for it.
That’s a good point, Deb. Most of the people who work there really love animals.