South American Fur Seals Arrive At Living Coasts Aquarium

By Philip Knowling 

Torquay, UK - Two new South American fur seals have arrived at Living Coasts Aquarium in Torquay.

Male Gringo (Spanish for man) and female Luna have moved to Living Coasts from Hamburg Zoo in Germany while their exhibit there is refurbished. They join seven year old Grace, who has been at Torquay’s coastal zoo for five years, female pup Tunanta (born in June 2006) and male pup Oscar (born in June 2007).

Living Coasts senior head keeper Tony Durkin said: “Gringo and Luna will be in the pool adjoining our own fur seals – Grace, Oscar and Tunanta. They will be mixed eventually, once they have all got used to each other. Few zoos are able to breed this species successfully. Living Coasts has reared two pups already, so the aim is to help increase numbers in the zoo population.”

Living Coasts Director Elaine Hayes said: “They could be with us for several years, which is great for us, as it means we can build up our seal colony. There’s now the exciting prospect of lots more pups to come.”

Living Coasts keeper Maddy Millin recently spent three days at Hamburg Zoo getting to know the seals, learning their husbandry routines, their characters and their preferences. Her colleague Amy Beckerleg then accompanied Paignton Zoo storesman Mike Loomes on the 1,900 kilometre round-trip from Living Coasts to Leuwarden Zoo in the Netherlands to rendezvous with their German counterparts and pick up the two animals. Gringo is around 175 kilos in weight and Luna between 40 and 50 kilos. 

“Gringo and Luna are both very laid back,” said Tony. “They are chilled out – and love their food!”

In January 2008 male Frodo, aged five, moved to Dortmund Zoo in Germany while female Bella moved on to Leeuwarden Zoo in the Netherlands. Living Coasts’ other original male, Otari, returned to Bristol Zoo in March 2005.

Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo and discovery centre, is a registered charity. For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk or ring (01803) 202470.

Living Coasts is a member of the British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums (BIAZA). BIAZA represents its member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums. For further information please telephone 020 7449 6351.

www.paigntonzoo.org.uk
www.livingcoasts.org.uk
 
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. Registered office: Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Totnes Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7EU. Registration number 792877. Registered charity number 300923. Place of incorporation: Companies House, Cardiff.

Photo Captions:
Seal move – keeper Amy Beckerleg feeds Luna during the journey.
Seal arrival – Living Coasts keepers carefully move one of the travel containers towards the seal pool