FWD: Harbour seals the latest attraction at aquarium

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This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)

URL:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/8/29/nation/8780390 & sec=nation

 

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Sunday August 29, 2004

Harbour seals the latest attraction at aquarium

BY NG SU-ANN

 

LANGKAWI: Three harbour seals, which had just arrived from Japan, will be the

latest attraction of Underwater World Langkawi.

 

Acquired from two aquariums in Hokkaido, the three female seals flew six hours

on Malaysia Airlines from Tokyo and arrived at KL International Airport at

7.40pm on Friday.

 

They were flown to Langkawi at 12.35pm yesterday.

 

Costing about RM25,000 each, the seals were transported in a Hershey Bar truck

at 20°C to the aquarium where they were instantly released into a tank.

 

Two of the seals are adolescents at nearly two years old while the other is an

adult aged four. A male seal, also four years old, is expected to arrive later

from Japan.

 

Malaysians can meet the friendly mammals when the aquarium opens its new

RM33mil extension project by the end of the year.

 

The seals will be among the main highlights of the extension project, which

will feature the sub-Antarctic, temperate and tropical rainforest ecosystems.

 

Other attractions will be the Rockhopper and Blackfoot penguins, anacondas,

capybaras (the world & #146;s largest rodent) and crocodile fish.

 

The brainchild of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the

90%-completed project will see the building of a new facility to complement the

underwater world & #146;s existing complex.

 

The aquarium & #146;s general manager Tanzil Md Noor said: & #147;We are glad to

see that the seals are adapting well to their new home. & #148;

 

He said he hoped to turn the aquarium into a world-class centre for education

and research in the region.

 

Aquarium manager Khoo Teng Chye said the seals would not be used for any live

shows as their presence here was for educational purpose.

 

& #147;We will set up information panels around their tank to educate the public

on their habitat, characteristics and behaviour, & #148; he added.

 

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