Featured Image Credit: New England Aquarium
By Sarah Sharkey
Firemen were called to Blue Reef Aquarium in the UK earlier after a bad storm caused significant damage to their enclosure. Specifically, their tank was leaking. As the water continued to drain, so did the energy of the seals. Their staff caretakers were afraid that the seals would eventually drown because they need access to a platform in order to rest and breathe. Just like you see tons of seals piled up on a beach, these seals needed a place to relax because swimming is an intense workout. If they don’t have a chance to rest every 30 minutes, it is likely that the seal will drown.
Thank you to @Tyne_Wear_FRS who today came and helped fill our seal pool.
Our main sea pump failed in the storms leaving us without water.
With their help our seals are now able to safely haul out on land for a rest!#Thankyou #FireandRescue #Aquarium #NorthEast #Tynemouth pic.twitter.com/rS9yPeujZx
— Blue Reef Aquarium (@BlueReefT) March 17, 2018
The water level was too low to reach the platform, so the seals were just trapped in a tank that they could easily drown in. The firemen pumped water into the tank from a nearby fire hydrant until the water level was high enough for the seals to hop out. Once they made it to the platform, the seals were in no danger of drowning.
The aquarium was unable to fill up the tank themselves because the pumps failed during the rough winds of the storm. Luckily, the firemen were able to help out.
Learn from our source here.