Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
A rare look inside our harbor seal exhibit...
...and an even rarer chance to see our harbor seals maneuver on land!
During routine health care exams, we temporarily drain the water from the harbor seal exhibit so our Animal Care team can provide each seal with hands-on care. It's also a unique opportunity to get a close-up look at the caves and caverns that make up their habitat.
While harbor seals can move on land, they aren't built to walk. Unlike sea lions, their pelvic bones are fused, so they can't rotate their hind flippers underneath their bodies. Instead, they use a caterpillar-like belly crawl, affectionately known as "galumphing." By pulling themselves forward with their front flippers and undulating their bodies, they can make their way across land in their own unique style.
So if you visit the Aquarium and notice the harbor seal exhibit is temporarily drained, don't worry—it's all part of their routine health care. You might even get the rare chance to see some galumphing in person!
📝: You may notice algae on the exhibit surfaces in this video—that's completely normal! Our harbor seal exhibit is designed to reflect their natural environment, where algae is a common part of the ecosystem. Allowing natural algae growth also helps create a darker habitat, which is more comfortable for the seals' sensitive eyes.
#HarborSeals #Galumph #MarineMammals
A rare look inside our harbor seal exhibit...
...and an even rarer chance to see our harbor seals maneuver on land!
During routine health care exams, we temporarily drain the water from the harbor seal exhibit so our Animal Care team can provide each seal with hands-on care. It's also a unique opportunity to get a close-up look at the caves and caverns that make up their habitat.
While harbor seals can move on land, they aren't built to walk. Unlike sea lions, their pelvic bones are fused, so they can't rotate their hind flippers underneath their bodies. Instead, they use a caterpillar-like belly crawl, affectionately known as "galumphing." By pulling themselves forward with their front flippers and undulating their bodies, they can make their way across land in their own unique style.
So if you visit the Aquarium and notice the harbor seal exhibit is temporarily drained, don't worry—it's all part of their routine health care. You might even get the rare chance to see some galumphing in person!
📝: You may notice algae on the exhibit surfaces in this video—that's completely normal! Our harbor seal exhibit is designed to reflect their natural environment, where algae is a common part of the ecosystem. Allowing natural algae growth also helps create a darker habitat, which is more comfortable for the seals' sensitive eyes.
#HarborSeals #Galumph #MarineMammals
