THE BRONX — A sea lion pup found outside a California bar during the Super Bowl has a new home at the Bronx Zoo.
The 11-month female, named "Halftime" because of her football connection, found her way onto the deck of Mr. Rick's Beach bar in Avilla Beach, Calif., during the Super Bowl on Feb. 5.
Halftime had already turned up on different stretches of the California coast three times before finding her way to the bar. Attempts to release her back into the wild had been unsuccessful, zoo officials said.
She was transferred to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito for care and rehabilitation, the zoo said.
The sea lion has been at the Bronx Zoo since the end of March.
"We are able to provide a home for an animal unlikely to survive alone in the wild," said Bronx Zoo Director Jim Breheny in a statement.
He added that once she is mature, she will be able to add genetic diversity to the sea lion population at the zoo.
"She will be well cared for in the Bronx and will be an ambassador for the species by helping us teach zoo visitors about wildlife and conservation," Breheny added.
