Sea lions make a splash

New State Fair attraction aims to educate while entertaining

Syra, Kitty and Stella are flipping out for the Wisconsin State Fair.

These three playful sea lions, alongside their trainer Stefi Slavova, make up the Sea Lion Splash, an act making its State Fair debut this year. Featuring flips, tricks and dancing, the act hopes to both entertain and educate fairgoers.

Sea Lion Splash is a traveling sea lion exhibit that takes in sea lions who would be unable to survive on their own in the wild due to sickness, age or injury. Stella, for example, was found stranded on a beach in Puerto Rico. These sea lions travel around North America to make people laugh and promote living in harmony with marine life.

“The show is educational, but with a lot of flash, I like to say. And fun! Because the sea lions are playful,” Slavova said.

Each sea lion has its own personality and likes to show it to the audience, she said.

They perform handstands, balance balls, do flips, dance, smile and even demonstrate how to recycle. The show also explains the difference between seals and sea lions.

What makes this show different from other sea lion acts is that Syra, Kitty and Stella are all Patagonian sea lions. Most zoos and aquariums in the United States feature California sea lions.

Performances, which last about 30 minutes, take place at 12:30, 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. daily at the fair, which runs from Thursday through Aug. 16. After most shows, fairgoers will have a chance to pose for photos with the sea lions. The exhibit will be open for observation at 10 a.m. daily and close at 7 p.m.

Guide to State Fair 2015 Look for a complete schedule as well as guides to what’s new and admission deals for this year’s fair at jsonline.com/statefair.