Experience of the forced fattening of Halichoerus grypus (Phocidae) pups in the biotechnical aqua complex of the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Kola Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The most important stage of keeping seals in captivity conditions is training of pups which have finished breastfeeding to feed on solid food (fattening). On expedition in 2016 the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute (MMBI) staff captured five pups of the Atlantic gray seal (Halichoerus grypus grypus) for the purpose of carrying out experimental studies. The caught animals were transported to the MMBI aqua complex in Gadzhievo. Three of the five captured animals began to feed on thawed fish without additional measures. A forced battening method was successfully applied for the two remaining animals. Additions made to the original technique of forced battening have proved its efficiency.

Keywords

• aqua complex
• captivity conditions
• fattening
• forced fattening
• gray seal
• pup