SEA LIFE Weymouth Aquarium News

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okapikpr

Well-Known Member
The Sea Life Center is planning to import 1.0.4 Green Sea Turtles from Florida, USA

Applicant: Hidden Harbor Marine Environmental Project, The Turtle
Hospital, Marathon, FL, PRT-207047
The applicant requests a permit to export five green sea turtles
(Chelonia mydas), one male and four immature animals, to Weymouth Sea
Life Adventure Park and Marine Sanctuary, Dorset, United Kingdom, for
the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species.
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Taken from the US Federal Register.
 
Also, apparently (according to a national newspaper anyway), they are planning to become a crocodile re-homing centre for abandoned/unwanted pet crocs. No idea if that's true or not.
 
Without wishing to incur anyones wrath, does anyone else question the wisdom of spending £20,000 on importing turtles that cannot even submerge themselves. I'm all in favour of supporting rehab work but I seriously doubt whether this publicity stunt will (as stated in the export request) 'enhance the survival of the species' in the same way that a £20,000 donation to a sea turtle research project would do. Thoughts?
 
Theloderma said:
Without wishing to incur anyones wrath, does anyone else question the wisdom of spending £20,000 on importing turtles that cannot even submerge themselves. I'm all in favour of supporting rehab work but I seriously doubt whether this publicity stunt will (as stated in the export request) 'enhance the survival of the species' in the same way that a £20,000 donation to a sea turtle research project would do. Thoughts?
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I think you can make that argument for anything you don't like ie-"Why should David Beckham drive a Ferrari when there are kids starving in Africa?"-the Daily Mail syndrome!

The turtles needed a home, the publicity alone will have earned Sea Life back the fees, and it may well encourage people to donate to turtle charities or visit sanctuaries/breeding grounds when on holiday, earning money for them that way.

Win-win, as far as I can see.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Weymouth already have a pair of sea turtles? Where did they go?
I have some photos from 2007 and they definately had them then. :confused:
 
London is getting penguins!? I didn't hear about this, I'm guessing they are being housed in an indoor display?
 
(IMHO)...thats 10 Gentoo penguins that will never see daylight again....from Edinburgh's thriving colony to an underground basement in Waterloo....
 
I dont think the penguins in the central park zoo in New York have access to an outside enclosure but they seem to be doing ok. I know they will probably be denied sunlight but at least in an indoor enclosure they will be able to replicate the arctic climate for them and eradicate the chance of food being stolen by local wildlife (e.g. seagulls) :)

I'm sure i'll get shot down after this comment but in a way its true :D
 
RTB1987 said:
I dont think the penguins in the central park zoo in New York have access to an outside enclosure but they seem to be doing ok. I know they will probably be denied sunlight but at least in an indoor enclosure they will be able to replicate the arctic climate for them and eradicate the chance of food being stolen by local wildlife (e.g. seagulls) :)

I'm sure i'll get shot down after this comment but in a way its true :D
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They're not from the arctic, but the antarctic or sub-antarctic really and many penguins are kept in indoor enclosures, which as long as they are big enough and provide all they need like any other enclosure isn't necessarily a problem. It's a misconception that they only live in very cold environments though as they experience seasons in places like the Falklands where many colonies live and breed. These gentoos are also hand fed which also means less problems with birds stealing food if they are kept outside.
 
I don't think the London Aquarium is actually that big, I'm a little bit worried that the enclosure will be on the small side?
 
johnstoni said:
Indoors, sure. But, underground?
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Is it functionally that different? So long as SeaLife can break their habit of darkened exhibit areas...
 
johnstoni said:
Indoors, sure. But, underground?
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So it's OK to exhibit them indoors, but where abouts in the building they are matters?

If they are inside surely there will be the same arguments (sun light, other birds, etc) regardless of floor?
 
Sorry, to clarify, I don't object to the floor level at which a penguin exhibit is situated, I object to an exhibit lacking any natural daylight. I am not a fan of reverse-lighting nocturnal houses for small mammals either, but I am certainly not a fan of an aquarium housing seabirds in an exhibit lacking natural light because the institution bringing them in has no other space.

However, I could be wrong and they may well use the entrance area as part of the exhibit.

I am aware of other indoor penguin exhibits throughout the world where daylight is artificially provided/controlled. I am not a fan of these either, but if they come up with anything approaching the quality of some of these exhibits I will be pleasantly surprised.

I'm not aware of, and would be interested to see any research into health and behaviour of penguins kept in light-controlled conditions as opposed to outdoors. Air quality is obviously easier to control indoors which is an advantage.
 
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