Newly arrived in town and already she is making a dramatic splash. Fourteen-year-old Solo has just taken up residence at Rhyl’s SeaQuarium and has landed a starring role in their new Peter Pan production for the Easter holidays.
Solo, a South African or Cape fur seal, will be the not-so-villainous Mr Smee, right-hand ‘man’ to the dastardly Captain Hook – but unlike the real pirates she’s far more interested in fishy treats than pieces of eight.
One of her co-stars is also a newcomer to SeaQuarium, 23-year-old Stacy Adams, a Bangor University graduate who finds she has become not only SeaQuarium’s new sea lion keeper but also that ageless resident of Neverland, Peter Pan.
The Peter Pan themed sea lion show starts for Easter Holidays from Saturday (April 16) and run for three weeks with two shows a day at 1pm and 3pm, each running for around 15-20 minutes.
“Stacy is our newest member of staff. Originally she is from London but she studied at Bangor University and is a graduate in marine biology and zoology. She joined us last year but has been promoted and this will be her first season as sea lion keeper,” said SeaQuarium attractions manager Colette MacDonald.
“Our marine keeper Zoe Kelly will be sharing the role of Peter Pan with Stacy. Solo is a 14-year-old female South African fur seal who came here from the West Midlands Safari Park.
“She is going to be doing the show looking for sharks in the water (sharks and orcas are sea lions’ most dangerous predators), jumping through hoops, throwing rings in the air.”
The performances by the seals are not unnatural skill but behavioural exercises, developed to allow visitors to see different aspects of the fascinating mammals.
“Peter Pan with its pirates and watery themes was ideal for us to develop as a show,” said Colette. “The staff get to dress up as pirates and there will be themed music.”
Since even the furtive imagination of J M Barrie did not stretch to having sea lions playing leads in his novel, there could be some liberties with the “plot” which sees Solo’s as Mr Smee trying to keep Peter Pan from rescuing Tinker Bell, the feisty fairy companion of Peter Pan, a part which will be taken by one of the other three South African fur seals in SeaQuarium.
Sea Lion Cove, opened in 2009 and with its 73,000 gallon tank, is not only the biggest of its kind in North Wales, but the most popular attraction at SeaQuarium.
Despite their size – a female South African fur seal can be about five feet long – the sea lions are seen as gentle giants who are remarkably friendly. Too friendly in fact to be a really good pirate.
You can contact the SeaQuarium on West Parade Rhyl by ringing 01745 344660 or get more information on line at www.seaquarium.co.uk
