MEDIA RELEASE: Friday 24 January, 2014

Remaining Marineland Seals to Go to World-class Zoos

The remaining seals at Napier’s Marineland go will go into quarantine today (Friday 24 January) in preparation for relocation to four of Australia’s top zoos.

The eight remaining seals will be flown to their new homes following the required 120-day quarantine period.

“While it’s sad to see the seals go, I’m delighted they are going to such fantastic homes. For them it will be a bit like being upgraded from a tired motel room to a suite at the Hilton,” Napier Mayor Bill Dalton says.

“We’ve done everything we can to make sure these seals will be well-looked after and I don’t think the outcome could have been any better. They are going to absolute world-class facilities.”

Once quarantine is complete, the seals - five New Zealand fur seals, one Sub-Antarctic fur seal and two California Sea Lions – will be airfreighted to Sea World on the Gold Coast, Melbourne Zoo, Sydney’s Taronga Zoo and Dolphin Marine Magic at Coffs Harbour.

Marineland Senior Supervisor Regan Beckett said while he would miss caring for the seals, he was looking forward to hearing how they settle into their new homes.

“I know they’ll like their new homes. I’m pleased they will be well-looked after, they’ve been accepted into some amazing zoos.”

Marineland’s consultant veterinarian, Mike Lintott, will oversee the quarantine process with the assistance of expert veterinarians from Massey University and other zoos.

The Marineland site, which closed to the public in 2008, will be incorporated into the on-going redevelopment of Napier’s Marine Parade that will include a proposed new skate park, reef garden, amphitheatre and carpark.

ENDS

© Scoop Media