It's such a shame that this is the only survivor in the western world, I know that at least one aquarium in Japan holds this species but I doubt their enclosure would be as scenic as this!
On an unrelated note, what's the aquarium like? Any rarities in there?
Thanks in advance.
When posting these I nipped onto Zootierliste to confirm the sex of the seal (they're quite good at giving the sex when it's a single animal - female in this case, it turns out: http://www.zoochat.com/443/baikal-seal-leipzig-02-09-11-a-239856/). Zootierliste also lists two collections in Russia, including, appropriately enough, the Baikal Seal Aquarium.
There's a nice collection in the Aquarium; not astoundingly spectacular but nicely rounded - the reptiles in particular have a few gems in there. Pictures in due course.
But that depends on whether Russia is in the Western World... Seriously though, I've never heard of the Baikal Seal Aquarium and a quick Google search doesn't bring up anything of note, I'm still pondering the possibility of imports from an establishment with a name like that though. Optimism is overriding common sense unfortunately!
There's a nice collection in the Aquarium; not astoundingly spectacular but nicely rounded - the reptiles in particular have a few gems in there. Pictures in due course.
But that depends on whether Russia is in the Western World... Seriously though, I've never heard of the Baikal Seal Aquarium and a quick Google search doesn't bring up anything of note, I'm still pondering the possibility of imports from an establishment with a name like that though. Optimism is overriding common sense unfortunately!
(English site is pretty skeletal but the Russian page is very active and translates well through Google Translate)
I'd be very surprised (but very pleased!) if any more were imported - I think for the time being European P. sibirica fans need to get to Leipzig or start sorting their Russian visa...
