The Courier has teamed up with Blair Drummond Safari Park to offer readers the chance to win a family pass for two adults and two children each week - and learn a bit more about their residents at the same time.
Last month, not only did the safari park officially launch its new sea lion habitat, it also welcomed a brand new sea lion. Five-year-old sea lion Ineke (pictured) joins the park’s two other California sea lions, Oscar and Poppy.
Ineke came to the park from Banham Zoo after being visited by head sea lion keeper Shane earlier this year.
Shane and Ineke immediately hit it off, and he knew she would be a great addition to the Blair Drummond sea lion family.
Blair Drummond education officer Jamie-Leigh Green said: “The team at Banham Zoo were very accommodating and once we agreed on the transfer, they set about training her to enter her travel crate.
“Ineke is a confident and charismatic California sea lion and has settled in very quickly. Oscar and Poppy were very excited to meet her and have accepted her into the gang with open flippers.
“Ineke is very inquisitive and really enjoys exploring her new surroundings. She is also very keen to take part in her daily health checks and training.
“California sea lions are native to the western coast of North America and can often be spotted at San Francisco’s Pier 39. Sea lions are of course named after another large carnivore, and this is due to the mane that some male sea lions sport, as well as their loud roars. An easy way to tell the males and females apart is to look at their size, males are typically two or three times larger than females.
“Many people often confuse sea lions with seals but there are a few key differences. Firstly, California sea lions have visible external ear flaps, whereas seals have ear holes. Secondly, sea lions are also adapted for movement on land as well as in the water, they are actually able to walk using their flippers.”
Blair Drummond Safari Park is open seven days a week, from 10am until 5.30pm. Tickets can be booked online at blairdrummond.com.
For a chance to win a family pass, which can be used any one day during the park’s opening season this year, just answer the following question: How much larger are male sea lions compared to females?
Send the coupon with your answer, name, address and contact number to: Safari Park Competition, West Lothian Courier, One Central Quay, Glasgow, G3 9DA. The deadline is Tuesday at 4pm. Only original vouchers will be accepted, no photocopies.
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