Sea Lions Leaving Riverbanks Zoo

Columbia, SC—Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia is getting rid of one of its most popular attractions, at least temporarily. Later this month, it will send its two sea lions to a zoo in Chicago so Riverbanks can demolish the sea lions exhibit and build a new one.

The current exhibit is more than 35 years old and was built before the zoo ever opened. While sea lions live in saltwater, the exhibit has freshwater. Putting a new water and filtration system into the current exhibit just didn’t make sense says Satch Krantz, executive director of Riverbanks.

“We would have to spend a lot more money in the short term to make it better for the animals, and to spend that money on this old, 35-year-old, exhibit would just not be a good use of the taxpayers’ money,“ he says.

It’s also difficult for visitors, especially children, to see the sea lions sometimes at the current exhibit. That will change after the renovation.

“Some things the public won’t notice right away,“ Krantz says. “For example, it would be saltwater. Things the public will notice that would be so much better would be underwater viewing. These animals are incredible to watch underwater and certainly any new exhibit here would feature underwater viewing.“

The zoo does not have financing yet for the project but will go to Richland and Lexington counties once the economy improves to ask them to issue bonds. Krantz says he hopes to have the new exhibit built and the sea lions back in about three years.