Seals return: new habitat opens in Rostock Zoo!

Seals return: new habitat opens in Rostock Zoo!

In an exciting twist, the seals return to Rostock Zoo. After around 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 on Wednesday with a lot of effort in special transport boxes. The animals are given appropriate consideration, not only through transport, but also through the newly designed seal facility.

This impressive facility cost an impressive 12.5 million euros and will officially open on July 3rd. Gizmo and Sammy, the two male seals, are about to move into the new saltwater tank, while Susi has to wait a little longer for health reasons and can only follow in two weeks because she is already 36 years old.

The new seal facility

What can visitors expect in the new seal facility? Instead of two small water basins, a large basin was built in which seals and fur seals are socialized for the first time. This modern facility uses advanced filter technology and salt water to provide the animals with optimal keeping conditions.

Small islands invite the seals to sunbathe, while terraced rocks offer places to retreat. For visitors there are large viewing windows that allow fascinating underwater views, as well as covered traverses for observing show feeding. The planned educational area is particularly pleasing: Here, knowledge about marine mammals, their habitat and the important nature and species protection are to be conveyed in a playful way.

The protection of seals

But alongside the joy of the seals' return, there are also more serious issues. Seals are considered an endangered species worldwide, primarily due to exploitation and environmental pollution. In Germany, seals are protected under the EU Habitats Directive, and gray seals in particular are highly endangered. The animals are under immense pressure from hunting, disease and habitat loss due to climate change.

The organization IFAW is committed to ending the commercial seal hunt and is working on sustainable alternatives. Documentation and public awareness play a major role in this. Research is also being carried out into modern methods for rescuing wounded animals, including the use of GPS-based stunning darts.

A new chapter is now beginning for the Rostock Zoo and the returning seals. With a dedicated focus on conservation and education, this new facility will not only benefit the animals, but also raise visitors' awareness of the challenges facing marine mammals today.

So if you want to learn something about the fascinating creatures from the water and observe them in their new environment, you definitely shouldn't miss the opening of the new seal facility!