Park given Oscar
Oscar is the newest addition to Blair Drummond’s sea lion colony.
Oscar was born in June 2015 at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo and was transferred to Blair Drummond Safari Park in May this year.
He joined the park’s four females Bella , Bali, Poppy and Lola, making Blair Drummond part of the European California sea lion conservation breeding programme.
Park manager Gary Gilmour said:“In preparation for Oscar’s arrival we made a lot of improvements and upgrades to the sea lion facility, with further plans to expand the exhibit in order to accommodate the future breeding programme.
“He was introduced to each female individually to slowly integrate him into the group at a comfortable pace for all of the animals.
“They all seem to be getting on very well so far, especially with Poppy and Bali, although he has been testing his boundaries with Lola, who has been the most dominant of the group, which Oscar should gradually take over.
“In the wild sea lions would naturally wean from their mothers at around six to nine months.
“The males would then go off on their own to mature and grow, with the aim that one day they will establish their own breeding territory.
“At birth pups weigh around 6-9kg. At two years old Oscar is already over 56kg and eating almost 5kg of fish per day.
“He won’t be sexually mature until four or five years old and could grow to be over 400kg and 7½ feet long, whereas the females are already fully grown, weighing in at 80 to 100kg.
“California sea lions are known for their intelligence, playfulness and noisy barking and little Oscar is no exception.” ●The Stirling Observer has teamed up with Blair Drummond Safari Park again this season to offer the chance of winning a family pass every week.
For a chance to win just answer this question: how much do sea lion pups weigh at birth?
Send your answers along with your name, address and contact number to: Safari Park competition, Stirling Observer, 34 Upper Craigs, Stirling, FK8 2DW. The deadline is Monday at 4pm.