Mystic Aquarium Contest to Name Three New Sea Lion Pups

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration recently welcomed three California sea lion pups and wants the public's help in naming them! Starting today, the aquarium is holding a contest to find the perfect names for the playful pups – one male and two females – that arrived on May 16. The chosen names will be announced during their first birthday party on August 27 at 11 a.m. at the aquarium.   The contest consists of several parts. First, the public can submit name ideas through the aquarium's Web site, mysticaquarium.org, through August 12. From these suggestions, the aquarium's animal care staff and celebrity judges – WFSB-TV meteorologist and "Better Connecticut" co-host Scot Haney , Miss Connecticut 2009 Sharalynn Kuziak and UConn Men's Basketball Coach Jim Calhoun – will choose five finalist names for each pup. From August 17 to 24, the public can go back online to vote for their favorite names. The winning names will be announced on August 27 at the pups' first birthday celebration, featuring cake for guests and a fish "dessert" for the pups. http://www.mysticaquarium.org/content/forms/sealionpup.html