Aquarium of Niagara provides construction update on outdoor seal exhibit

Aquarium of Niagara Press Release & Images

The Aquarium of Niagara’s rescued seal exhibit will remain closed to the public until fall 2025 as the venue makes improvements to the outdoor habitat.

The Aquarium of Niagara is working with Walter S. Johnson Building Co Inc. and WAVES Architecture + Engineering to make important changes to the 40-year-old exhibit that prioritize the comfort and safety of the site’s seals. Project priorities include:

•Adding an access ramp to facilitate animal transport in and out of the exhibit in a way that minimizes stress on the animals.

•Creating more "beach" space for the seals to haul out of the water to relax. This also provides more room for the animals to participate in training and husbandry activities.

•Replacing the natural shale in the exhibit. While it is a beautiful representation of the geology of the Niagara Gorge, the elements have taken their toll, and it is necessary to replace the infrastructure with modern building materials to ensure the exhibit remains safe for years to come.

Renderings courtesy of the Aquarium of Niagara.

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The $350,000 project is supported by funding from the Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquaria Capital Grant Program, the Grigg Lewis Foundation, and Aquarium of Niagara operating dollars. As a nonprofit organization, the Aquarium of Niagara relies upon the generous support of the community to make these transformational changes to longstanding exhibits, and anyone who wishes to donate in honor of the “Rescue Harbor” project can do so via the aquarium’s website.

This project demonstrates the venue’s commitment to meeting and exceeding evolving standards for animal wellbeing. During construction, the Aquarium of Niagara’s two rescued harbor seals, Stryker and Lumiere, will be living in the main pool with the California sea lions, where guests can encounter them through the glass. “Seal Encounters” are not available during this time, but guests can still meet a seal up close through the site’s “Trainer for a Day” program.

While the “Rescue Harbor” exhibit is closed, visitors who do not require an accessible entrance are to follow the path at the northwest corner of the parking lot through the aquarium’s public plaza, Whirlpool Commons, to reach the main entrance. Visitors with accessibility needs should follow the path to the right of the aquarium’s main building to the accessible entrance located behind the building. 

For more information, visit aquariumofniagara.org.