Pinniped Lab

Pinniped Cognition and Sensory Systems Lab, often referred to as the Pinniped Lab, is a research facility housed within the University of California’s Coastal Science Campus at Long Marine Laboratory in Santa Cruz. Building on a legacy of marine mammal research dating back to the early 1960s, the lab explores the cognitive abilities, communication strategies, and sensory biology of seals, sea lions, and other pinnipeds.

The lab gained international attention with its work on a California sea lion named Ronan, who demonstrated the ability to keep a musical beat – an unexpected skill that challenged assumptions about rhythm perception in non-human animals. This and other studies have helped reshape scientific understanding of marine mammal intelligence and behavior.

Many of the lab’s research animals are rescues, often transferred from facilities like the Alaska SeaLife Center after being deemed unsuitable for release. These individuals play a vital role in advancing science while enjoying enriched lives in a supportive environment, embodying the lab’s commitment to giving rescued wildlife a meaningful second chapter.