Sarah Michelle Gellar and her daughter, Charlotte, had a whale of a time at Sea World in San Diego, Calif. July 13.
The pregnant actress, 35, and her little girl, 2, happily posed for photos as they petted Nanuq the beluga whale. The mother-daughter duo also met sea lion pups, sharks, a rescued pelican and a bottlenose dolphin named Ripley during their visit to the marine life park.
On June 16, the Los Angeles Zoo presented longtime animal lover Gellar with the Tom Mankiewicz Leadership Award at its 42nd Annual Beastly Ball. “I used to come here all the time even before I had children, but now being able to see the animals through my daughter’s eyes is incredible,” said the actress, married to Freddie Prinze, Jr., 36, since 2002.
“It’s important to help the community any way you can,” she added. “The zoo really does a lot to rehabilitate the animals and provide them a safe environment.”
Her love for wildlife aside, the former Ringer star is eagerly anticipating the arrival of her second child this fall. “She and Freddie are thrilled,” a source said when Us Weekly broke the news of the actress’ pregnancy in April. “They’re amazing parents.”