Almost all tanks have already been filled with water, and new species of fish and other animals are now moving in. About 250 fish are swimming in the Tanganyika tank, and around 800 in that of Malawi. They are home to crab as well. The Red Sea tank is now also brimming with fish.
Stefan, Armstrong and others
A green sea turtle has just moved in to the Mozambique tank, which is going to be a home to rays and sharks as well. "The turtle (Chelonia mydas) is called Stefan. This young specimen has relocated from Gdynia. The name of the species derives from their fatty tissue, which is in fact green. Stefan is of course vegetarian," says Joanna Kij from Wroclaw Zoo's Marketing Department.
In the wild, the green sea turtle grows to 140 cm in length, 500 kg in weight, and some specimens live up to 80 years of age!
The Africarium has yet another new resident: a male manatee whose name is Armstrong and who comes from Odense Zoo in Denmark. "He is now settling in at our tank. He swims around the tank and explores the bottom with his paddle-like flippers. I think he likes it here," says Joanna Kij. Manatees are the least explored species in the order Sirenia. An adult specimen can grow to 500 kg in weight and from 3.5 to 4.5 metres in length. Manatees are vegetarian and, just like the green sea turtle, are threatened with extinction.
Other animals are also expected to arrive at the Africarium in the coming days. First sharks and rays should soon turn up, and preparations are being made to transfer the crocodile to its new pen. The aadrvark are also waiting to move house.
South African fur seal (only females, for the time being), which moved to their pen in August, are now neighbours with African penguin.
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Photographs: Wroclaw Zoo
