Prague Zoo debuts young South African seal Jabulani

Prague Zoo has introduced a young South African seal named Jabulani to its public exhibition. Born on June 5, the male pup is the great-grandson of the famous seal Gaston.

Jabulani's early life was critical; his mother, Daisy, initially lacked sufficient milk and did not show much interest in the pup. To ensure his survival, veterinarians and keepers provided intensive care, including supplemental feeding with a mixture of cream and fish meat. After approximately one week, Daisy began nursing him regularly.

Following a gradual swimming training process that moved from small tubs to larger saltwater pools, Jabulani has successfully transitioned to the main freshwater exhibition pool. Since birth, his weight has increased from 4.51 kilograms to 14 kilograms. He remains dependent on maternal milk and is not expected to eat fish until next year.

Prague Zoo is currently the only facility in the Czech Republic housing South African seals, a species found in only 16 zoos within the European Union. Due to the social structure of the species, Jabulani will eventually move to another zoo to join a different group.