Wild Sea

Wild Sea, Melbourne Zoo’s largest ever exhibit, showcases the distinctive animal inhabitants and natural beauty of Victoria’s coast and ocean. 

Wander up to a beach, with sand dunes, a pier built from salvaged timbers, and coastal vegetation, where you can watch the penguins and seals enjoy their new, capacious home – along with some new neighbours.

Wild Sea is an incredible immersive and educational experience for the whole family to enjoy. Find out what’s going on beneath the water of Victoria’s beaches and along our coastlines – and how you can help conserve these precious natural habitats.

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  Penguins

  The penguins’ tidal pool has been designed to show off their aquatic skills, with vast underwater windows extending its full depth – or you can watch them frolic on the surface. Adjustable water jets mimic the ocean’s changing currents.

  Victoria’s native penguin species, Little Penguins, are the smallest in the world. Penguins are the best swimmers and divers of all the world’s birds. Watch ours in action!

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  Seals

  The zoo’s seal colony can be seen swooping and diving through their five-meter-deep pool, enjoying its coastal currents. Elegant underwater, they can seem awkward on land, where they moult, breed and rest.

  The Australian Fur Seal is the largest of the fur seals, with males growing as large as 2.3 metres long (and females to 1.5 metres). 

  Melbourne Zoo is home to four fur seals – Silva, Gordo, Tarwin and Bay – all of them rescued after being hurt or stranded in the wild.

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  Pelicans

  Two Australian Pelicans, Altona and Percy, are enjoying their environment in the wetlands estuary. Both pelicans were found injured in the wild and brought to Melbourne for treatment.

  Australian Pelicans are the largest of the world’s seven pelican species.

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  Marine creatures

  And for the first time, the zoo has become home to other native marine creatures – you can see Port Jackson sharks, fiddler rays, seahorse and all kinds of fish.