Scarborough Sea Life animals happy to have visitors back
Staff think the animals have suffered with separation anxiety during the lockdown
Last updated 20th May 2021
Staff and animals at Scarborough Sealife Centre are relieved to finally have visitors back on site.
Workers believe the animals have suffered with separation anxiety during lockdown and have had to spend extra time with them to keep them company.
The animals are used to having visitors interacting with them as they make their way through the attractions, but while the centre has been closed the animals moods changed.
Graeme Farrah, experience manager, said: "They are used to us opening the attraction and having hundreds of guests coming through, waddling with the penguins.
"Ever since closing we've had to do a bit of team bonding with them. It's almost as if they've been suffering as a result of not having any visitors in.
"The animals still needed to be fed so our animal care team worked the whole way through.
"There would be one team starting at 5am, keeping them company, then they'd swap over with the other team. It's been really long days for them.
Graeme also mentioned that there are some animals particularly excited to welcome guests back.
He added: "We've got a couple of penguins: Custard and Rico. Rico is a very naughty penguin and he likes try to peck customers shoes so we do need to control him."
Sea Life reopened its doors on May 17 after being closed since December last year.