Sea bear arrives at Living Coasts

A sea bear has arrived at Living Coasts in Torquay.

The male South American fur seal called Karel arrived on Wednesday from Halle Zoo, in Germany. The German for seal is Seebären, which translates as sea bear.

Karel is nine years old, but is ten in June, while Torquay’s coastal zoo marks its own tenth birthday in July. He currently weighs in at 83 kilos – that’s 182 pounds or 13 stones – and measures 1.6 metres nose to tail. He will get a little bigger as he matures

He joins Living Coasts’ two female seals, Grace, who is 12, and Tunanta. Tuna, as she is known, was born in June 2006, the first seal to be born at the coastal zoo.

Meanwhile, female otter Tamara has left Living Coasts bound for Cologne Zoo in Germany. A male otter will arrive to join young female Scarlett in due course. The animals were moved by specialist animal transport company EKIPA.

Clare Rugg, Living Coasts Operations Manager, said: “The move went very smoothly – he has settled in well to his new home. We are getting to know him – we have already found out he does not like mackerel! He is a very friendly seal and his previous keeper in Germany has told us he likes doing handstands!”

His new home features two pools of natural seawater up to 3 metres deep, a beach and three large rocks to lie on. Two wave machines generate water movement, while jets of water simulate currents for the seals to swim into.

For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk or ring 0844 474 3366.