No that is not global warming you are seeing. It is a real sea lion sledding down fake snow at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo.
The park opened Blitzen’s Wonderland Mountain attraction on Tuesday where kids can sled down an 80-foot long snowy slope.
To celebrate the opening of the attraction, the park brought out California sea lions – 25-year-old Doc, whose 700-lb. weight did not deter him from gliding down the hill, and 5-month-old Ella, who was a little puzzled about the snow, but fortunately, her “moms,” were close by.
Though California sea lions are not indigenous to snow, Doc nonetheless took the challenge in stride.
The animal staff also brought out Oswald, a six-week-old African penguin chick to meet guests. As an African penguin, this five-pound chick would never actually live in snow, so he sat on the lap of one of his keepers and was introduced as the first successful penguin chick to hatch from the park’s penguin colony.
Kids delighted in the snow, made up of 50 tons of ice which will be freshly packed each day of the park’s winter festival, Holiday in the Park, which opens this Friday, Nov. 28 and will run through Jan. 4.
The park has been transformed into a winter wonderland with themed holiday areas, an 80-foot-tall Christmas tree, millions of dazzling lights, holiday themed dolphin, killer whale and sea lion shows, plus a host of live music and entertainment for this nighttime event.
For more information on the park, the animals or the festival visit Six Flags Discovery Kingdom's Web site.
