As you say, odd-looking. I'm not good on Pinnipeds, but the proportions look all wrong. I know colour can be deceptive, especially when they've just come out of the water, but I really don't think it's that species. Somebody who knows about these things, please, what is it?
As you say, odd-looking. I'm not good on Pinnipeds, but the proportions look all wrong. I know colour can be deceptive, especially when they've just come out of the water, but I really don't think it's that species. Somebody who knows about these things, please, what is it?
I asked at least two older volunteers and both maintained that this was a Common Seal, probably only because the other one in the exhibit was and because it was labelled as such, but I was sure it was something else, and one of them seemed to get a bit angry at me for questioning that, even if neither one of them seemed to know a lot about animals.
I've seen so many Common Seals that I knew there was something not right about this one the second I saw it, the proportions indeed. It had not come out of the water; it crawled through that door on the photo and then stayed in the exhibit for a few minutes and went back inside.
I didn't see a keeper to ask and neither volunteer was willing to go in the back to find someone to ask, so I left Como Zoo without knowing anything and even a bit angry; this seal was such a mystery to me. I'm a pinniped fan and I wanted to know.
I started thinking of all sorts of seal species; Bearded Seal at first since I thought the hairs on this one were unusually long, but Bearded Seal is so large, much larger than this thing.
I asked at least two older volunteers and both maintained that this was a Common Seal, probably only because the other one in the exhibit was and because it was labelled as such, but I was sure it was something else, and one of them seemed to get a bit angry at me for questioning that, even if neither one of them seemed to know a lot about animals.
This is an attitude that I am sure many zoo-chatters here have encountered many times before. If you haven't got a uniform on you most likely know nothing
This is an attitude that I am sure many zoo-chatters here have encountered many times before. If you haven't got a uniform on you most likely know nothing
Volunteers may often know little more than what was on the sheets given to them by the zoo when they started. That said, I have have pleasant conversations with them here and there, but some, as well as some paid staff, may not like if visitors think they know more than the staff does.
Black individuals are rare for common seals, but they occur. I think this is a common seal, but a younger one, that may explain the strange proportions...
