Wales adopt Seals
20th December 2006

The windy weather which Northern Ireland has witnessed of late has wreaked havoc for the seal population in and around our waters.

Sick injured and orphaned seals are rehabilitated @ Exploris - The Northern Ireland Aquarium and Seal Sanctuary. Currently Exploris hosts 18 seals, which is a record number for grey seal pupping season alone, and it is only half way through! In fact Exploris is that overloaded with seals, they have had to look further a field to find rehabilitation centres to host some of the rescued pups, as Tania Johnston (Exploris Seal Rehabilitation officer) explains;

'It seems to be a nation wide issue at present, as many of the rescue centres we have tried do not have any room. Luckily we were able to find a rescue centre in Wales that could take three of the seals. Lesley one of our technical experts is leaving today with Darla, Pearl and Flo - three female grey seals -  for the Welsh Mountain Zoo,  who have facilities to rehabilitate a small number of seals'.

Seals that are healthy enough to travel can be easily transported. Lesley will travel to Dublin port and cross to Holyhead where he will travel by road to the Welsh Mountain Zoo. Exploris as one of the larger rescue centres in the UK is usually on the receiving end of transported seals and already plays host to a common seal from the Isle of Mann from earlier this year.

The rescue and rehabilitation of seals is a costly business as Rory Martin - Exploris Events and Marketing Officer explains;

Rescuing one seal alone costs on average £1,000. This cost includes transportation to and from Exploris, food for four daily feeds for up to six months , an initial veterinary inspection, medicines, micro chipping (for identification purposes in case of re rescuing) and staff time. This does not include the cost of the eventuality that Exploris may have to transport seals to Wales, a cost which Exploris inherits. Last year Exploris rescued 25 seals during the common and grey seal pupping seasons and therefore relies heavily on public donations to the seal rehabilitation programme.

In the lead up to Christmas, Exploris have seen a rise in the number of requests for seal adoptions.  Tania suggests;

'This is down to the rise in interest in quirky Christmas presents that have a moral personal touch. Adopting a seal helps support Exploris' rehabilitation programme for a very affordable price of £20.  Adopters receive a photograph of the seal, an adoption certificate, three updates on the seals progress, 10% discount in the 'Splash Out' Gift Shop and one free admission to the aquarium.'

The increasing amount of rescued seals coincides with the launch of Exploris' corporate Sponsorship pack which will be release early in 2007. Exploris are offering businesses who want to promote their environmental awareness the opportunity to sponsor sections of the aquarium where depending on the level of sponsorship, the corporate will receive differing benefits. Some of the benefits include use of the mobile touch tank, facilities for corporate hire, and the erection of branded wall plaques; PR and Photo shoot opportunities as well as the knowledge that the money invested is being put to sustaining the viability of the valuable work carried out by Exploris.

- Ends –

For further Information please contact
Exploris Events and Marketing Officer - Rory Martin on 028 42 72 80 62,

Notes to editors:
1. Full details of Exploris Sponsorship pack and the seal adoption programme can be found @ www.exploris.org.uk
2. Exploris is a fully accessible Ards Borough Council tourism facility.
3. Children under four go free!
4. For opening times and admission prices, please visit www.exploris.org.uk or Tel: 028 4272 8062, fax: 028 4272 8396 or email info@exploris.org.uk
5. Exploris will be close 24th, 25th and 26th December but will resume normal opening times thereafter.

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