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...
Thanks for the link, I see what you mean about the English site though. Dafinetly sketchy!
I hate to be pesimistic but by the time I get to Leipzig the old girl may well be dead.
After a quick Google, the longevity record is over half a century so she could have many years ahead of her yet! If we're to believe Wikipedia Baikal Seals keep growing until 20-25 years old and are reproductively fertile until around 40.
After a quick Google, the longevity record is over half a century so she could have many years ahead of her yet! If we're to believe Wikipedia Baikal Seals keep growing until 20-25 years old and are reproductively fertile until around 40.
That's a fair amount of years, I may well get to see a captive Baikal seal again! Well fingers crossed at least.
Not sure I believe the Wikipedia article though...
This seems to be the place: Aquarium Of Baikal Seal | About*|*Welcome
(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...
Googling "Irkutsk Nerpinary" (i.e. "the Baikal Seal Aquarium of Irkutsk") will give more info. Wikitravel says this: "Tucked away in the residential area of Irkutsk is a small Nerpinary. The Nerpinary is home to two Baikal seals. For a small price you can go and see these seals perform a small presentation and paint a picture! which you can even purchase after."
Seal is difficult to see in their natural habitat because of its secrecy and fearfulness. You can see the first in the world show of trained Nerpa and its behavior in Nerpinary, which was opened at Listvyanka in June 2009. They can sing, dance, play with the ball, and even to count.
The idea to do training and education of these animals came to the candidate of biological sciences, EA Baranov, at a time when he was an employee of Limnological Institute:
"People do training of dolphins and ocean seals for a long time. But with the Baikal seals we never do anything like this. I've always wanted people to notice a seal not only because of expensive pelt, but also as a highly intelligent creature.
Then we can already engage in learning. They turned out to be well aware of people and happy to make for them all that their abilities will let them. And they have tremendous abilities. The main thing is to explain the seal, what you want to achieve of it.
Seals do not know what fatigue is: sleeping only three or four hours a day in the evening they frolic, as if the day has just begun. They seem to be even a little upset when the performance ends.
Nerpinary Show of charming pets is important, but not the most important part of our work. Adoring smiles and happy children's laughter of our guests is the best way to their hearts. After the performance we tell them many interesting things about the largest freshwater lake in the world and the work of our scientists-limnologists. And people suddenly begin to ask questions that never would come to their mind; they should not have a closer look at dark-eyed pinnipeds aboriginals of Baikal ".
We invite you to visit the only show in the world of trained Baikal seals! We hope that the visit of Nerpinary will give you unforgettable impressions!
Address:
Listvyanka settlement, Gorky street, 101 “A” (between hotel “Priboi” (“Swash”) and the ground of souvenirs)
Working hours:
Tuesday-Friday: from 11:00 to 17:00. During school vacations and holidays you should specify the schedule.
Saturday-Sunday: from 11:00 to 18:00. During school vacations and holidays you should specify the schedule.
Performance (duration – 30 minutes): 11:00, 12:30, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, and 17:00. Additional performance on Saturdays and Sundays is at 18:00.
