Lockdown Baby Boom

Whilst we may not have had the lockdown baby boom that we expected, more than twelve months on from the UK entering isolation, SEA LIFE are enjoying an unprecedented amount of new sea creatures blessing their waters.

Whilst most of us have been stuck at home with little to do, the cute creatures who call SEA LIFE their home have been making the most of their time out of the public eye.

SEA LIFE Manchester, based at the Trafford Centre, has welcomed a female and a male cownose ray pups into the world.

The birth of cownose rays in aquariums is very rare and this is only the second birth seen in a UK SEA LIFE aquarium – the first being witnessed in the Brighton based attraction. To welcome not one but TWO new bundles of joys is a first for the world’s largest aquarium brand.

The cownose rays have been fittingy named in tribute to the tough year we’ve had and the hard work of NHS staff across the country. The little girl pup has been named Hope and the baby boy ray Bevan – after the founder of the NHS, Aneurin Bevan.

And the procreation doesn’t stop there, as SEA LIFE Scarborough and SEA LIFE Hunstanton have welcomed new sharks to its abundence of sea creatures.

Scarborough has become the new home of Pyjama sharks, wheras Hunstanton have received two new Guitar sharks that were originally born at SEA LIFE Birmingham, so they’ll be plenty of new surprises awaiting the return of visitors when the indoor centres reopen on the 17th May.

On the new additions to SEA LIFE’s marine life, Brendan Malone, Curator at SEA LIFE Manchester, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome the new additions to our SEA LIFE centres throughout the UK and we can’t wait to introduce them to our visitors when sites reopen in May. Work behind the scenes has been tireless during lockdown, as we care for over 30,000 species nationwide, and we (and our aquatic residents) can’t wait to welcome the public back to the attraction.”

Guests will be able to experience the adorable new sea creatures when SEA LIFE centres across the UK reopen their doors on the 17th May. As always, safety measures will be in place throughout the attraction to take care of visitors and colleagues alike.