Marineland seals arrive in Australia

FIVE seals from Napier’s Marineland have arrived at their new homes in Australia.

The seals left New Zealand on Wednesday morning and are now in quarantine.

“Staff have reported back that all the seals are very happy and are all doing well,” said Napier City Council Tourism Services Manager Neil Fergus.

Californian sea lions Dakota and Orion, New Zealand fur seals Iha and Ollie, and sub-Antarctic fur seal Mako all took two flights to reach their destinations.

Their journeys somewhat unconventionally with them being transported from Napier to Auckland a New Zealand on a Royal New Zealand Airforce Hercules plane.

The Royal New Zealand Airforce stepped in to help the Napier City Council get the animals to Auckland International Airport commercial flights from Napier were not big enough to take the animals’ travelling crates and a road trip would have added several hours to the journey.

Iha is now at Melbourne Zoo, Ollie at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, and the other three at Sea World at Surfers’ Paradise.

The animals will remain in quarantine in Australia for 30 days before joining their new zoo-mates.

The three remaining Marineland fur seals - Molly, Mr Bo, short for Mr Bojangles, and Pania will travel to Australia in March next year.

ENDS

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