Ice Ice Baby! Scotsman continues its support for seals and penguins
Hubbard Ice Systems, the UK distributors of Scotsman Ice Systems, has continued its support of the National Seal Sanctuary based at Gweek in Cornwall and its sister organisation, the South Bank based, SEA LIFE London Aquarium.
Hubbard Ice Systems first supported the National Seal Sanctuary in 2008 when it loaned a Scotsman MFN56 nugget ice machine to help it look after its famous, globe-trotting, arctic hooded seal named ‘Sahara’. Sahara hit the world news desks in 2008 when he became renowned for losing his way from the North Atlantic, his normal hunting grounds, and heading for the African coast. After being released several times, it was decided that Sahara should become a resident at Gweek and to make him feel at home, ice making experts, Hubbard Ice Systems were called upon to remind him of what his natural habitat should be.
Sadly, Sahara passed away of natural causes in April 2010, but his legacy lives on, thanks to Hubbard Ice Systems, who have now handed the ice machine to the sanctuary, in his memory.
The sanctuary rescued 49 pups during 2010 all of who have been treated to veterinary and behavioural care and safely returned to the wild. Whilst in care, ice plays a significant part in the animals’ recuperation says Sarah Vine, Attraction Manager at the National Seal Sanctuary, “The animal care team has great fun in coming up with new and innovative ideas for safe enrichment activities for all the animals in their care and the Scotsman Ice Machine has played a key role in these activities. Not only is the ice safe for the pups to play with it’s a real hit with all of our residents.
Our South African fur Seal, father and son, Chaff and Andy love to eat the ice! This amazed us as Chaff and Andy are the only residents to do this, visitors love to watch the pair chase the ice around the pool, flipping it in the air before giving it a big crunch, a great demonstration of how they would devour prey in the wild!
South African Fur Seal ‘Chaff’
South African Fur Seal 'Andy'
Our Sea Lions use the ice as a refreshing bed and love to lie around keeping cool, with three large sea lions we have to make sure there is plenty of ice to go round to reduce the risk of squabbles.
Our newest residents, a colony of Humboldt’s penguins, entertain our visitors by dunking the ice to the bottom of their pool, releasing the ice and watching it bob to the surface before repeating it all over again, ice race anyone?”.
Chris Davis, Commercial Director of Hubbard Ice Systems comments; “Donating the ice machine to the Seal Sanctuary has been great for everyone at Hubbard Ice Systems, normally we are selling ice machines to commercial users, for medical treatments or the hospitality sector, so supplying to the Zoological sector has been very rewarding, in fact, we have just installed a Scotsman MF36 ice flake machine at the SEA Life London Aquarium for its new Penguin Experience exhibit”.
The SEA LIFE London Aquarium is a major new area featuring a family of Gentoo Penguins. SEA LIFE’ London Aquarium's new Ice Adventure is a very different – and much chillier - experience to any other, giving guests a totally unique way to get close to, and learn about, the Gentoo penguin.
Working with British Antarctic Survey, SEA LIFE London Aquarium has created an area that transports guests to a research station in the coldest and most inhospitable place on earth. Around one million visitors visit the London Aquarium each year, and now they will journey through an icy landscape, full of interactive features – from freezing touch pools, to looking at the world through snow goggles. In the penguin viewing ice cave, visitors get a direct window into the habitat of the Gentoo penguin as a group of the magical creatures dive beneath the water and play in a carefully created icy home from home.
The pool exhibit is over 70 M2 and home to eight very inquisitive Gentoo penguins that enjoy playing with the ice, although it also has a practical function keeping the birds’ feet in top condition, massaging them as they walk over it and preventing infections.
