Flippin’ amazing! Bella the seal blows bubbles on cue
Super smart rescue seal Bella is blowing visitors away at Melbourne Zoo as she glides through her underwater target training.
The four-year-old Australian Fur Seal blows bubbles, opening her mouth voluntarily while she ‘plays chasey’ with a target held by a keeper.
Wild Seas Life Sciences Manager Harna Burton said this underwater training is exciting for zoo visitors to see, but is most importantly both cognitively and physically stimulating for the seals.
“Seals are naturally curious, playful and they’re often problem-solving in the wild when it comes to their next feed and keeping themselves safe,” Ms Burton said.
“With this training, we want to mimic that behaviour by keeping her stimulated, keeping her guessing and challenging her mentally and physically.
“It’s especially stimulating as Bella can’t see the reward while she’s doing the training – the fish is given to her by another keeper on the surface once she’s done the right behaviour underwater.”
Melbourne Zoo’s three seals all participate in underwater target training within the Wild Sea precinct, including long-nosed fur seals Iha and Pania. However, energetic Bella is by far the keenest student.
“Bella is such a playful, intelligent young seal with so much energy, so she is always eager to participate in this training,” Ms Burton said. “The act of exhaling forcefully to blow bubbles is a great mental challenge for her as well.”
Bella - named after the Bellarine Peninsula where she was rescued as an injured seal pup by Melbourne Zoo’s Marine Response Unit in 2019 - underwent successful surgery and intensive care at the zoo before it was determined that the best welfare outcome was for her to remain in the zoo’s care rather than risk releasing a lone seal pup back into the open ocean.
“Visitors can look forward to watching Bella grow in size and confidence as she continues to master her favourite type of training,” Ms Burton said.
As well as being great enrichment for Melbourne Zoo's seals, bubbles are at the centre of a Zoos Victoria conservation campaign that aims to reduce the harm caused to wildlife by outside balloons.
When Balloons Fly, Seabirds Die campaign encourages the use of bubbles instead of balloons at outside celebrations.
Marine mammals, such as seals and penguins, as well as bird species, including pelicans, are particularly at risk from balloons and other plastics that end up in oceans and waterways.