PITTSBURGH -- The
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium has a new addition.
One of the zoo's sea lions, Zoey, has given birth to a female pup. It's the first sea lion birth in the zoo's 111-year history.
Video: 
Raw Video: Mom, Baby Sea Lions Frolic At Zoo Slideshow: Sea Lion Pup - Try To Resist The Cuteness!Zoo officials say the baby was born June 13. When keepers arrived at 6 a.m., they could hear Zoey and the pup exchanging vocalizations.
While keepers were initially concerned the pup wasn't nursing, after an exam they found mother and youngster were doing fine. They said Zoey is keeping a close eye on the pup so that it doesn't go near the water.
Zoo director Dr. Barbara Baker said the first 30 days of the pup's life are critical for its survival, but so far things have been going well.
"The pup has already achieved some major milestones, which we're very proud of, in that the mother and the pup have bonded extremely well," Baker said. "As a matter of fact the mother, even a week before the birth, kicked the other female off the deck and would not let the female up on the beach area. And that's where she had her pup, right on the beach."
Video: Raw Interview: Dr. Barbara Baker On New PupBaker said Zoey is doing "extremely well" in caring for the pup.
Zookeepers said the pup is gaining weight and can see, shake, groom, scratch, and walk, but it will be about two weeks before the baby is old enough to begin swimming lessons.
"The pups actually don't know how to swim when they're first born. So mom does teach them gradually," Baker said.
Keepers noticed breeding activity last year between the male sea lion, Hawk, and Zoey and another female, Maggie.
Zoo officials said mating season for sea lions is usually in May and June, with gestation lasting nine months.
But sea lions have delayed implantation of an additional two to three months, so the pup has arrived in summer when food is more plentiful. Delayed implantation means the embryo remains in a state of dormancy before it begins to develop.
Ultrasounds in January showed that Zoey was pregnant.
See The Pittsburgh Sea Lion Ultrasound!Sea lions normally give birth to one pup, but on rare occasions, twins have been born.
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