Young Fur Seal Jabulani on Show at Prague Zoo for First Time

Visitors to Prague Zoo had to wait seven years for another fur seal pup. Now Jabulani, born in early June, is making his first public appearance alongside his mother Daisy.

After a difficult start to life, little Jabulani is now exploring his enclosure independently. Visitors to Prague Zoo can experience the young South African fur seal up close for the first time. The pup, born at Prague Zoo on 5 June, was presented to visitors for the first time on Wednesday. The male moved into the enclosure near the main entrance together with his mother Daisy.

His keepers named the little fur seal Jabulani. The name comes from the South African language Zulu and can be loosely translated as ‘bringing joy’. This is the first time in seven years that a pup of this species has been seen at Prague Zoo.

Foto: Petr Hamerník | Zoo Praha

Difficult First Days of Life

The first few days after the birth were dramatic, however. Daisy apparently did not initially have enough milk and showed little interest in her offspring.

‘The male survived only thanks to the round-the-clock care provided by the veterinarian and keepers,’ explained Prague Zoo director Lenka Poliaková.

Around a week after the birth, the situation improved. As Daisy began producing milk, her maternal instincts also emerged. The pup is now being reared naturally.

‘We can now all watch the two-month-old male explore the enclosure alongside his mother,’ said the zoo’s head fur seal keeper, Jakub Mezei.

Initially Learnt to Swim in Small Pools

South African fur seals are born on land and learn to swim from their mothers. As the Prague enclosure has neither shallow access to the water nor small tidal pools like those used by pups in the wild, Jabulani was gradually introduced to the water behind the scenes. His keepers initially provided him with pools of different sizes. At the beginning of August, the young fur seal finally ventured into the large swimming pool for the first time.

Foto: Petr Hamerník | Zoo Praha

‘Every pup born at Prague Zoo is a small miracle. This is doubly true for fur seals, as rearing them is not easy,’ explained Jana Komrsková, Deputy Mayor for the Environment and Climate Planning. She said she was delighted that the pup was developing well and could now enjoy the water and his new audience.

Prague Zoo currently keeps five South African fur seals: the young bull Oslo and the females Abeba, Ronja and Daisy, together with her son Jabulani. The youngest member of the group is expected to move to another zoo at a later date. Fur seals live in harem groups, each led by a dominant male.

Prague Zoo Is the Only Holder in the Czech Republic

Prague Zoo is the only zoological garden in the Czech Republic to keep South African fur seals. Within the European Union, the species is currently represented at just 16 zoos.

Jabulani can be seen every morning in the enclosure near the main entrance. The only exception is Friday, when the fur seals’ large pool is cleaned.

Prague Zoo (Zoologická zahrada hl. m. Prahy)
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