7.
In front of you are glass doors and walls separating us from the strict quarantine zone, accessible only to the centre’s staff or other authorised people with special permits.
Behind these doors are several premises: the animal admission area, where new arrivals undergo an initial examination, an operating room, a laboratory for necessary tests and six quarantine rooms – you can see one of them on your right.
Each quarantine room is completely isolated from the others and has its own heating and ventilation system, as well as video cameras for close monitoring of the animals (especially important during the first few days) and other essential equipment.
Typically, each room houses two to four seal pups, depending on factors such as their health condition and feeding skills.
Animals stay in quarantine for about three to four weeks (sometimes less) after their arrival at the rehabilitation centre. Once they have recovered and stabilised, they are moved to the outdoor pools for the next stages of rehabilitation.