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20th December 2016
12:10am GMT
Did you know unlike seals, sea lions can walk on land? I do.
That's what going to the zoo about 50 times a year does to a person – and no, I'm not even exaggerating. As family pass holders we regularly visit, for the simple reason that it's a whole lot more interesting for three-year-olds than just going for a walk.
For those of you who aren't zoo fans, you probably won't know that Dublin boasts one of the best medium-sized zoos in the world. Its success in breeding animals over recent years is testament to the enclosures they've created for the animals and how well they're treated.
For the past couple of months the Pacific Coast Area of Dublin Zoo has undergone a significant redevelopment, including a new Flamingo Aviary and Sea Lion Cove. The latest installation – a state of the art salt pool – just opened up this weekend, and it's absolutely extraordinary. The sea lions were sent off to the UK for the winter months while the builders moved in – and as a big fan of their, I was delighted to discover they had returned over the weekend!
This new enclosure has a viewing deck, a underwater viewing area as well as a new cafe and picnic area. If you haven't been to the zoo in a while, now's the time to make a return – just look how happy the sea lions are!