Two Stellar sea lions were transported from Europe to Alaska and wildlife experts say they are hoping the move may result in romance blooming.

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A 4-year-old female named Sitka and a 1-year-old male named Pilot arrived at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward after an 8,100-mile trip by jet and moving van, the Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday.

The came to Alaska from Dolfinarim, Europe's largest marine mammal park in the Dutch town of Harderwijk.

"No problems, none in the least. Two of the calmest sea lions I've ever transported," said Brett Long, the SeaLife director of husbandry.

After a 30-day quarantine, the new arrivals will join four other endangered Stellar sea lions at the facility, which is hoping to breed the animals.

"We would hope to have successful breeding this summer," said Lori Polasek, lead scientist for sea lion programs at the center. "Nobody in the United States has bred Steller sea lions in captivity since the mid '80s."

The SeaLife Center is one of just three institutions in the United States, along with Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut and the Oregon Zoo in Portland, that have captive sea lions.