The video shows the moment an utterly cute baby sea lion that was recently born in the Vienna Zoo enjoys the outdoor enclosure with its mother for the first time ever.

A young offspring of a male sea lion named Comandante that had to be euthanized at the age of 19 in March, was seen relaxing with its mother in the sea lion enclosure of the Tiergarten Schonbrunn Zoo.

Zoo Director Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck told Newsflash in March: “Comandante was born in 2002 in our zoo. Many visitors grew up with him and he has become dear to everyone.”

Despite Vienna Zoo visitors saying goodbye to their favourite pet a few months ago, they have a new pup to look forward to after female seal Nina delivered it on 19th July.

According to the press release, the newborn baby sea lion is the last heir that Comandante left behind before he was put to sleep.

Hering-Hagenbeck said: “Female sea lions have a gestation period of almost a year. Nina is the mother of the young animal, who also gave birth to little Pedro in 2019, and therefore is experienced in raising young.”

According to the director the mother and the newborn were almost exclusively staying inside the enclosure after the young one was born, but are slowly starting to explore their outer surroundings and meet visitors.

Hering-Hagenbeck, who explained that Nina and her offspring live together in the sea lion facility, added: “South American sea lions live on the coasts of South America and are able to swim immediately after they’re born. So far, the young animal has not yet dared to go into the water.”

He added: “The two of them can join the rest of the group once it [the newborn] feels strong enough to move on land and in the water.”

Zookeepers are currently looking for a suitable name for the young one, after determining several days ago that its gender is male.

The young animal will be suckled in the first six to eight months, after which zookeepers will slowly start to include fish on its menu.

South American sea lions (also called southern sea lions or Patagonian sea lions) are listed as ‘least concerned’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species as their overall population is considered stable and estimated at 265,000 individuals.