EXTRAORDINARY FLOWERS MARK TWO SPECIAL BIRTHS AT BLACKPOOL ZOO
Blackpool Zoo’s two newest arrivals were born on the same days that an exciting species of flower mysteriously appeared behind their enclosure for the first time.
Niko and Rubi, who are male and female Californian sealions arrived on the 2nd and 9th of June to first time mothers Anya and Gina.
On each of the ‘birthdays’ the large mammal team discovered an extraordinary Bee Orchid behind the Active Oceans Arena, a flower which has never been seen at Blackpool Zoo before.
Both the sealion pups are doing well and are now out and about, taking their first tentative dips in the pool under the watchful eye of their mothers and the rest of the harem.
The Bee Orchids have been protected with fencing and staff at the zoo contacted the Lancashire Wildlife Trust to ascertain how rare they are.
Alan Wright, Communications Officer at Lancashire Wildlife Trust, then contacted the Lancashire Environment Record Network at Lancashire County Council to record the sightings. He said: “Bee Orchids are very noteworthy and this really is a super find. They are a beautiful flower and it is wonderful to hear that they were discovered on the same day that the two sea lions were born.”
Jude Rothwell, Marketing and PR Co-ordinator at Blackpool Zoo said: “Shortly after the birth of our first sealion, Niko, on June 2nd, one of our large mammal team, Gary, approached me to say he had seen a Bee Orchid flower behind the enclosure. We all went along and our gardener immediately fenced it off to protect it.
“A week later our second sealion, Rubi was born and it was then when the other Bee Orchid was discovered. It’s just strange that we have never seen these flowers here before and they make the births even more special.
“The sightings have now been recorded and it will be interesting to see if any more appear this year.
“The names of our two sealions are Spanish in origin and Rubi, which translates into Ruby, has been named as she was the 40th baby to be born in the year we celebrate our 40th anniversary.”
Blackpool Zoo has the largest sealion pool in the UK, which underwent a £1m redevelopment in 2010. It is now home to nine Californian sealions. Max, who arrived last year from Madrid, is head of the harem, which includes Lotte, Carmen, Isobelle, Gina, Anya, three year old Elmo and now Niko and Rubi.
Blackpool Zoo is open every day of the year. Current opening hours are 10.00am until 5.45pm and last admission is 5.00pm. Visitors can save on admission prices by booking online at www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk.
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Notes to editors:
Pictures show: (please click below links to download pictures. If you encounter any problems please email paula@icgonline.co.uk) All are labelled. Niko, Rubi, Anya and Niko and the Bee Orchids
More information about Blackpool Zoo:
Blackpool Zoo’s visitor numbers continued to hit record highs in 2011, with the year being hailed as the busiest in the zoo’s 39 year history.
Blackpool Zoo is owned by Parques Reunidos, the second largest European leisure parks operator and a leading world-wide player. The zoo is home to over 1,500 mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates set amidst thirty-two acres of mature woodland and lakes.
The zoo’s signature animals include elephants, giraffes, big cats, gorillas, orang-utans, sea lions, primates, zebras and kangaroos. It is open every day of the year, apart from Christmas Day, from 10am.
For further information please contact:
Paula Holden, Julie Hackett or Denise Dawson at ICG on 01772 679383 or email paula@icgonline.co.ukJulie@icgonline.co.ukor denise@icgonline.co.uk
Out of office hours contact: Paula Holden on 07772268378
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