Living Coasts seals play water polo with pumpkins

Keepers say the seals playing with the pumpkins is called environmental enrichment. Credit: Living Coasts

Seals at Living Coasts coastal zoo were given a seasonal treat – a pumpkin filled with squid.

Keepers at the zoo were amused as the marine mammals enthusiastically ate their fish dinner then played a little game of water polo with the pumpkins.

The keepers say it is a good example of what zoos call environmental enrichment - providing objects and activities to animals that would stimulate them mentally and/or physically.

There are currently five South American fur seals at Living Coasts:

  • Five-month-old pup Tamar

  • Mother Grace

  • Father Karel (pronounced Carl)

  • Young female Gemini (born in 2014)

  • Young female Tunanta.

There are currently five South American fur seals at Living Coasts. Credit: Living Coasts

Grace and Tamar are currently living separately from the others until Tamar gets bigger.

Tunanta is the first seal pup to have been born there.

Gemini is Tamar’s full sister, while Tunanta is unrelated.

Living Coasts is a coastal zoo owned by Paignton Zoo, as part of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust.