Seals return back: New habitat opened in the Rostock Zoo!

Seals return back: New habitat opened in the Rostock Zoo!

In an exciting turn, the seals return to the Rostock Zoo. After about two and a half years in the seal research center in Warnemünde, the lively animals have now found their new home in the zoo. Susi, Gizmo and Sammy were brought back to special transport boxes on Wednesday with a lot of effort. The animals are adequately taken into account, not only through transport, but also by the redesigned seal system.

This impressive facility cost a proud 12.5 million euros and is officially opened on July 3. Gizmo and Sammy, the two male seals, immediately move into the new salt water pool, while Susi has to wait a bit for health reasons and can only follow in two weeks because she is already 36 years old.

The new seal system

What can visit visitors in the new seal system? Instead of two small pools of water, a large pelvis was built, in which seals and seaside bears are first associated. This modern system comes up with advanced filter technology and salt water to offer the animals optimal keeping conditions.

Small islands invite the seals to sunbathe, while terraced rocks offer retreat. There are large sores for visitors that allow fascinating underwater insights, as well as covered trusses for observing shoveling. The planned area of ​​education is particularly gratifying: here the knowledge of marine mammals, their habitat and the important nature and species protection should be conveyed playfully.

The protection of the seals

But in addition to the joy of returning the seals, there are also more serious topics. Robben are considered an endangered animal species worldwide, which is mainly due to exploitation and environmental pollution. In Germany, seals are protected on the basis of the EU FEFH directive, and cone seals in particular are at risk. Under the pressure of hunting, illnesses and the loss of their habitat due to climate change, the animals are under immense pressure.

The organization ifaw is committed to ending the commercial seal hunt and works on sustainable alternatives. Documentation and public awareness play a major role. In addition, research is carried out with modern methods for saving wounded animals, including the use of GPS-based narcotic arrows.

for the Rostock Zoo and the returning seals now begins a new chapter. With a committed focus on species protection and education, this new system will not only benefit the animals, but also sharpen the awareness of the visitors for the challenges that marine mammals face today.

So if you want to learn something about the fascinating living things from the water and to watch them in your new environment, you should never miss the opening of the new seal system!