A boy aged 11 was recovering today after a sea lion mauled him at a popular Sydney zoo's aquarium show as horrified visitors looked on.

Jack Lister had been invited by zookeepers to meet the eight-year-old female sea lion during the Taronga Zoo's seal and sea lion show on Friday.

After feeding the animal, Jack mistakenly followed it off the stage, which frightened it, zoo officials said.

The sea lion bit the boy and left several puncture wounds on his stomach. Jack had abdominal surgery Friday night and was in stable condition in hospital.