Hogle Zoo to bring visitors and animals up close and personal


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SALT LAKE CITY — Petting zoos aren't just for bunnies and goats anymore, at least not at Utah's Hogle Zoo.

The zoo is making an effort to bridge the gap between some of its bigger residents and human visitors by launching a so-called VIP program later this year. They're starting with the pinnipeds — more commonly known as seals and sea lions.

My assignment was to make friends with them.

"They do have teeth," said primary pinniped keeper Michelle Hanenburg. "Any animal that does have teeth could bite you."

With those words of reassurance, I signed away my right to sue the zoo, slipped on a life jacket and went head to head with the animals.

I ventured onto their home turf to help with feeding time.


It definitely helps their mental health. We can't really say if it makes them happier or not, but it definitely makes them much more comfortable so that when we do have to have things come in that could be scary, they react a lot less.

–Michelle Hanenburg, primary pinniped keeper


"For a sea lion this is delicious," said keeper James Weinpress. "For us, we have to wash our hands about every five minutes to get that fish smell off of us. But for a sea lion it doesn't get much better than a mackerel head."

Hudson the sea lion, along with his girlfriend Mira, seemed eager to get things off on the right foot — or fin.

Mira turned out to be an ace at a little game the seals like: retrieving a plastic bottle. You never know when a zoo patron might drop one in. Mira turned it in for recycling.

Mira also gave me my first dance with a pinniped. Hudson also took a spin on the dance floor, following the lead of his human companions.

So why would Hogle Zoo invite an outsider into pinniped territory? Keepers said it's really for the animals' own good. It helps accustom them to outsider so they'll be more cooperative when they need medical care.

I even got to take part in a fake eye exam with the sea lions.

"We want the animals to voluntarily participate in their medical care," Hanenburg said. "We want to make sure that when we have to do something, we don't have a problem."

There's another big benefit to socializing with strangers — it helps the animals feel better about themselves.

"It definitely helps their mental health," said Hanenburg. "We can't really say if it makes them happier or not, but it definitely makes them much more comfortable so that when we do have to have things come in that could be scary, they react a lot less."

As part of the VIP program, donors and sponsors will get up close and personal with pinnipeds, elephants and apes. In theory, keepers said, it will be good for the people, good for the animals and good for fundraising.

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John Hollenhorst

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