Image: The new underwater tunnel at Sea Lion Sound

A new US$18m (EUR14.4m, £11.5m) experience taking visitors up close to swimming sea lions is to open at the centre of Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri, US, tomorrow (30 June).

The 1.5-acre (0.6-hectare) Sea Lion Sound is a new habitat and arena for 11 Californian sea lions and was funded through the zoo's US$120m (EUR96m, £77m) Living Promise Campaign.

Sea Lion Sound incorporates two marine mammal exhibits - Enterprise Rent-A-Car Family Sea Lion Landing and the Lichtenstein Sea Lion Arena.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Family Sea Lion Landing boasts a 35ft (11m) underwater tunnel that allows visitors to view sea lions swimming around them.

Meanwhile, the Lichtenstein Sea Lion Arena is home to the First Bank Sea Lion Show and includes an 811-seat amphitheatre, the Ann Lux Family Stage and a see-through pool.

Saint Louis Zoo president and CEO Dr Jeffrey P Bonner said: "Visitors will be able to interact directly with these magnificent marine mammals and learn from that contact.

"We believe this experience will build a new understanding of these highly adaptable, social creatures and the need for their conservation."

Details: www.stlzoo.org

Image: David Merritt/Saint Louis Zoo