Thanks - that certainly feels more logical.
Best UK Sea Lion enclosure
- Thread starter britishzoofan
- Start date
Thanks - that certainly feels more logical.
I imagine the fact that detrimental algae and fungal blooms would potentially be inhibited by salinity would have a bearing on the matter, too.
Still my first choice, with Colchester second.
Precisely, so it is not the presence of a tunnel that is the issue per sewhich is the implication I got from Zia's post.
And yes, that is more or less the story I heard too.
It is the presence of that particular tunnel that is the issue due to its structural limitations. You have incorrectly extrapolated that to all underwater viewing tunnels which is not at all what I said at all.
Out of interest, when did sealions finally leave London Zoo? I’m assuming it was for cost reasons, or was it always the intention that they’d take the place of Whipsnade’s dolphins?
London Zoo stopped keeping California sea lions in 1992.
However, twenty years later, in 2012, the species returned to Regent's Park, for a short time, as the Whipsnade sea lions were temporarily housed there whilst their accommodation at Whipsnade was renovated.
While I agree about Whipsnade's dolphins, there were quite a few smaller dolphin pools in the UK when it was built and I don't think any were as well designed (or probably as well equipped). Times have changed for the better now of course.
I believe one reason they left London was because they didn't fit their new (at the time) 'Conservation in Action' policy of focusing on endangered species. Whether replacing the Dolphins at Whipsnade was coincidental or deliberate or how much that counted in the decision I don't know but I think that no longer fitting the bill in the new 'conservation policy' aspect was the main one highlighted for their departure. Not sure whether the state of repair of the London pool may also have been a contributory factor.
When the dolphin exhibit opened in 1972, it originally housed five dolphins.
If it needed repair, there wasn't much money available then so it may have contributed.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
Is the sun in that part of Norfolk so much stronger than in California?
I imagine it has more to do with the bright blue pool lining than the sun itself. It would be rather effective at reflecting UV energy back at them as they swim and dive. Ocean floor not so much. I would think they'd also have more reason to look skyward than your average wild sealion - during training / feeding for instance.
Score update. Colchester currently have a healthy 7 vote lead over Blackpool. It would appear the presence of the underwater viewing tunnel which has swung the vote in Colchester's favour at the moment. This is the best category we have had so far in terms of votes gained for both Colchester and Blackpool.
Nobody has mentioned it yet, but Blackpool's enclosure was originally designed for dolphins. That never eventuated but explains why it is a good size for the sealions. Can build up a bit of speed when they want too. Not seen it but I thought Belfast's looked nice too.
Salt tablets are usually given in the feed when kept in freshwater pools, so I suspect the issue with eye problems is the fresh water rather than the pale colour.
Salt tablets are usually given in the feed when kept in freshwater pools, so I suspect the issue with eye problems is the fresh water rather than the pale colour.
Not that it compares but Bristol also has underwater viewing.
Yes, you are right for Fur Seals. I plan on possibly doing a poll for them at a later date.
Probably could have amalgamated them together given the exhibit styles would have been identical.