Enclosure for seals. Inhabitants: Grey seals, californian sealions and northern fur seals. Hannover zoos Yukon Bay! You see water spalshing, because there is a wavemashine.
Enclosure for seals. Inhabitants: Grey seals, californian sealions and northern fur seals. Hannover zoos Yukon Bay! You see water spalshing, because there is a wavemashine.
Looks very good, let's hope that the three species have no problems with each other, and that more zoos import northern fur seals..
Can't wait to see Yukon Bay, maybe one month, and I will travel to Canada, right in Germany
It may look "old school" but in fact it is one of the best pinniped exhibits ever built for one reason: the very vigorous water movement created by the wave machine keeps the animals in action at a level not seen in a typical still pool. They are constantly playing/working against the 1+ meter surge, and have gained muscle tone and strength far superior to most zoo seals. Plus, it is evident they are--without being too anthropomorphic--having fun. The pool is deep and varied, and the underwater viewing is stunning with the almost violent wave action and the constantly active animals. It is also quite large (surface area, depth and water volume), and lots of training and enrichment are provided. I have never seen a better pinniped exhibit.
Its not a bad pinniped exibit, but I wouldn't say it is the best, I know much better ones. I've seen some pinniped species in the wild, and I've seen them swimming also in quite waters, they do that in the wild, as long as they do it in zoos. Seals don't have any problem to swim or dive in quite waters. The waves are really nice in that exhibit, but the wave machine isn't really necessary for the walfare of any pinniped species, its just luxery.
Its not a bad pinniped exibit, but I wouldn't say it is the best, I know much better ones. I've seen some pinniped species in the wild, and I've seen them swimming also in quite waters, they do that in the wild, as long as they do it in zoos. Seals don't have any problem to swim or dive in quite waters. The waves are really nice in that exhibit, but the wave machine isn't really necessary for the walfare of any pinniped species, its just luxery.
The vets at Hannover believe the seals are in much better physical condition than they were living in their old, shallow, still pool. Of course they have "no problem swimming in quiet waters": the point is the active water requires them to work more, and varies the space they inhabit. And they certainly seem to enjoy it (not that I can read their minds).
What pinniped exhibits are better in your opinion?
That is a bold statement but from what I have heard about Hannover you might well be accurate. My background is in touring large numbers of American zoos and I was delighted with Sea Lion Sound at Saint Louis Zoo last summer. There are many excellent pinniped pools across the United States but that new one (built in 2012) at Saint Louis might well be my pick of the lot. The visitor tunnel that goes through one section of the pool is a true highlight although I'm intrigued by the wave machines to be found in at least 2 exhibits at Hannover. They are probably expensive yet effective.
@snowleopard Definitely agree that there are better pinniped exhibits for sure. I am however very intrigued about the potential massive benefits of a wave machine however for the health and enrichment of the inhabitants. Its something that had never occurred to me, I imagine it would have to be carefully managed so as to make sure it enriches rather than overly stresses the animals but If it works I think it could be a win win in terms of animal welfare and exhibition.
I visited Hannover and saw this exhibit with my own eyes in the summer of 2019 and it is without a doubt one of the best pinniped zoo habitats that I've ever seen. The wave machine raises the quality of the exhibit to a whole different level.
