CALIFORNIA DREAMING FOR BLACKPOOL’S SEALIONS

Britain’s biggest sealion enclosure will burst into action at Blackpool Zoo this year following a £500,000 investment. A complete overhaul of the pool and its surround began last year and it will reopen with its own beach and amphitheatre in time for Easter. Work is being carried out by Zootech, whose technical team of animal enclosure experts masterminded the celebrated penguin pool project along with zoo staff and directors in 2009. Stylish mock rock will replace the old concrete background and cascading waterfalls will give the sealions the perfect place to play hide and seek. Keeper facilities have also been revamped, with a walk in freezer, a specially designed kitchen area to prepare the sealions favourite fishy food and a spacious office. The filtration system has been totally renovated and a new state of the art pump house was finished at the end of 2009. Concrete walls and railings at either end of the enclosure have been demolished and are to be replaced with reinforced glass, meaning visitors will be able to see the sealions as they frolic around. Seating space in the amphitheatre will be more than tripled and the beach area built directly in front of it will allow visitors to get closer than ever before. The residents are getting ready to move back in and staff at the zoo are looking forward to welcoming a new bull to the harem from Madrid Zoo. Keepers are preparing for the new arrival by brushing up on some basic Español so they are able to communicate with him. Darren Webster, Blackpool Zoo’s Director, said: “Following the huge success of the penguin pool overhaul last year we approached Zootech to continue with the improvements and breathe new life into the sealion area. “Everyone was so impressed with the way they handled every aspect of the penguin project, from initial concepts through to completion, that they were the natural choice for the development of a bigger, better sealion enclosure.” Malcolm Mycock, Managing Director at Zootech added: “We very much believe in partnership working with clients and it is important to get everyone at the zoo involved when planning the redevelopment of homes for animals. “The experience of our team in this area is second to none and we are always willing to go the extra mile to meet deadlines. “It has been fantastic to watch the transformation of the sealion enclosure over recent months and the end result will be breathtaking.” The mock rock is close to completion and the final stages will be the beach and seating area before the launch date is officially announced in March. -ENDS- For an artist impression of what the new enclosure will look like please click on the link below Notes to Editors • Blackpool Zoo is owned by Parques Reunidos, the second largest European leisure parks operator and a leading world wide player. • Blackpool 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, orangutans, sea lions, primates, zebras and kangaroos. • Blackpool Zoo is open every day from 10am. Blackpool Zoo, East Park Drive, Blackpool, FY3 8PP. Tel: 01253 830830.

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