I know I've said this before, but Sealions used to provide one of the iconic sounds of London Zoo. And that pool was good, especially backing onto the Southern Aviary for largely water birds.
Does the seal area at Living Coasts have a tunnel or is it just underwater viewing windows? I can't picture it in my head
I think if it is a tunnel it does not go across the whole exhibit like Colchester, it was only last July but can't really remember!
Yes, you may well be right I was going to do them as a possibly later based on the continued popularity polls. There are plenty other better species to do first which I have planned.
Longleat Sealions can often be seen hauled out on the back of a dozing Hippopotamus. I voted for Longleat because their Sealions have far more swimming scope than any others in UK. Breeding records over the years point to the suitability of the setting, while seeing them porpoising alongside the safari boat is for me one of the great zoo experiences.
Lol - if it is a tunnel then it can't be very impressive if it had so little impact on both of us that we can't remember it...
I'd be strongly inclined to disagree with you as far as Bristol is concerned, even if you are correct with regards to LC
Too late, really - there are only the two exhibits to discuss, and they probably should have been included within this sealion poll.
To clarify my point, I don't think that in the context of Bristol Zoo that the fur seal exhibit is poor, just that it is too small to compete with Blackpool or Colchester! I would probably place it 3rd though!
I have been pondering this statement since it has been posted,and I have a question with regards it.I am aware that everything is built has a structural limitation,but surely if a Bull sealion has a weight to great for the tunnel,then surely 4 females are of a great weight and impose a greater risk than the Bull.So in effect I suppose what I am saying is the tunnel isn't the problem for them keeping a bull.I could be wrong and quite often I am.
LC has a tunnel crossing the 2/3 width of the second pool (ocean side). It is the pool where the Macaronis we’re first kept. Apparently the seals don’t like the tunnel and though they have access, they rarely go over that side. As I’ve stated here before, I genuinely love LC but they should not be keeping fur seals in that exhibit in 2020. It was designed for sea otter. At best, the smaller pool which the fur seals prefer could house native seals for rehab whilst the tunnel pool could/should be made into a separate display for sea otter, fairy penguin or ......? Either way, this discussion may be over soon anyway if LC closes due to funding issues! I really hope not but.....
In this case it isn't a matter of weight so much as pressure. If a bull sea lion were to try and break through the glass with his nose or tail, he could because of the pressure he exerts over a relatively small area compared to female sea lions, who, I assume, are not as strong nor as powerful
