Artis to relocate sea lions after pressure from Partij voor de Dieren

The three California sea lions still at Artis will be leaving the Amsterdam zoo, the facility announced on Friday. Earlier on Friday, the Amsterdam branch of the Partij voor de Dieren announced that it had filed a report with hotline 144 concerning the poor living conditions of the three California sea lions at Artis.

Artis reported on Friday that it has been working for some time on plans for the part of the park that includes the sea lions’ enclosure. “This involves not only renewing animal habitats but also making some difficult decisions about which species we can continue to provide with the best living conditions and welfare in the long term. For that reason, the sea lions will be leaving Artis.”

The first animals were relocated to another zoo in Europe at the end of last year; now, only three female sea lions remain. “We are also at an advanced stage of arranging a place outside Artis for them.”

According to Artis, that place is at the Singapore Zoo, one of the world’s most modern zoos. “Singapore is currently building a new enclosure.” It is still unclear exactly when the sea lions will depart.

The Partij voor de Dieren reported on Friday that they have been observing the sea lions for months. Their observations indicated that the Amsterdam zoo was not doing enough to ensure the animals’ welfare.

The party described the sea lions’ enclosure as a small concrete basin “with very minimal enrichment features” and demanded that Artis urgently improve enrichment in the sea lions’ habitat. In the long term, the party wants the Amsterdam zoo to stop keeping sea lions altogether.

On Friday, Artis expressed surprise that the party decided to continue with the action. Earlier this year, the Amsterdam party leader and a policy officer were informed that Artis is working on “a future for these animals outside the park.”

Party leader Anke Bakker welcomes the news that the sea lions are leaving, but she says their departure is news to her as well. “I have never heard of any concrete plans and wonder to what extent their situation will improve in Singapore.”

She also pointed out that it is still unknown when the animals will be moved. “We don’t know how long it will take, and the need for more enrichment remains urgent,” Bakker said, adding that they “might not leave for another year or two.”