See adorable sea lion pup share heartwarming moment with mom at Pennsylvania zoo

In an adorable photo introducing the newest baby at a Pennsylvania zoo, a sea lion pup looks up at mom and appears to give her a kiss.

But it’s much more likely they’re exchanging breath — something experts say sea lions do to bond and learn each other’s scent.

Kai, a California sea lion, was born on June 16 at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, according to a July 13 news release. His name means “sea” in Hawaiian and uses letters from his mom’s name, Kelilah.

“The Pittsburgh Zoo’s Animal Care team was with Kelilah throughout her journey, and we are happy to say the end result is a happy and healthy sea lion pup,” Henry Kacprzyk, curator of Reptiles and Kids Kingdom, said in the release.

Kelilah has been seen nursing her baby boy, and also making sure the “curious” pup stays safe around the pool.

“When Kai does go near the water, (his mom) makes sure he doesn’t fall in or try to get too adventurous,” Alex Cauley, the zoo’s public relations and media manager, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “She will nudge him to make sure he remains safe.”

California sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They’re native to the west coast’s coastal regions.

“They are easily trained and intelligent and are commonly seen in zoos and aquariums,” NOAA said. “California sea lions are playful, intelligent, and very vocal (sounding like barking dogs).”

Baby sea lions can identify their moms from hundreds of sea lions by their unique sounds, according to the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Guests of the zoo can look for Kai with his mom at the Kids Kingdom sea lion habitat.

This story was originally published July 13, 2023 at 4:55 PM with the headline "See adorable sea lion pup share heartwarming moment with mom at Pennsylvania zoo."