Sealife Sanctuary Oban
Sealife Sanctuary Oban
The Scottish Sealife Sanctuary
Barcaldine, Oban,
Argyll PA37 1SE,
Scotland
Tel: 01631 720386
About Sealife Sanctuary Oban
Sealife Sanctuary is the name of three centres across the country that offer visitors a great day out as well as fulfilling their role for the rescue and rehabilitation of marine animals. As part of the Sea Life network of marine life aquariums, each Sealife Sanctuary provides a crucial lifeline for scores of abandoned, stray or injured seal pups every year. In addition, all three sanctuaries boast plenty of other attractions meaning that they are an ideal educational and fun family day out, not prone to the vagaries of the weather.
Each Sealife Sanctuary site provides a unique insight into the lives of myriad waterborne creatures, from shrimps to sharks, with expert staff on hand to provide visitors with information, the opportunity to handle shellfish and other maritime animals in touch pools, and to learn about their habitats. Each Sealife Sanctuary ticket buys into a world of frontline conservation, with the National Seal Sanctuary based at Gweek, Cornwall, while the Scottish Sealife Sanctuary is at Oban – famous equally for its fine single malt whiskies, and now its fine single seals - and the Hunstanton Sealife Sanctuary, in Norfolk.
Each houses a range of sea life and offers rescued animals the chance of rehabilitation and release back into the wild. Each Sealife Sanctuary has an aquarium with fish and other creatures, many from adjacent coastal waters, as well as further afield. Among the roster are shrimps, starfish, herring, stingrays, crabs and octopuses, while breeding facilities are on hand for seahorses and otters.
For all those with an interest in wild animal welfare, as well as a fun family day out, a trip to one a Sealife Sanctuary is just the ticket. An all-year round, any-weather family attraction with eco-friendly credentials.
Sealife Sanctuary Oban is situated on the west coast of Scotland amid one of the most picturesque settings in Britain - the pine and spruce shoreline of Loch Creran. The Sealife Sanctuary Oban first became involved in the care and conservation of the Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) in 1980 and is now operating in its 29th year as a leading family attraction and conservation organ. A ticket to the Sealife Sanctuary Oban opens up a window on a watery wonderland teeming with sea creatures in a spectacular multi-dimensional aquarium, as well as the main attraction of the common and grey seal pups and adults that are resident in the rescue and rehabilitation facility.
Visitors can catch up on the daily goings-on and view the work of the busy Seal pup nursery, where expert staff look after numerous stray, sick or injured pups. Additionally, the family attraction has two resident common seals - Lorne and Lora – who occupy the Underwater Seal Observatory.
A fascinating and fun family day out at Sealife Sanctuary Oban is further enhanced by tanks containing crystal clear waters and over 30 varieties of enchanting marine creatures, from octopus and sharks, to shrimps, starfish and shoals of salmon that constantly swim in a unique shoaling ring, as well as silvery herring that wheel in never-ending circles.
The family attraction also features a large waist-high pool that houses a number of species of rays, while almost all of the hundreds of sea creatures featured can be found beneath the lochs of the West Highlands or the Atlantic.
Furthermore, a spectacular Otter sanctuary opened in 2002, providing copious underwater viewing facilities to view Fingal and other residents inhabiting a new holt and using the deep diving pool, streams and shallow pools. The family attraction’s conservation credentials are enhanced the more by a stud farm for seahorses opened in 2004, the National Seahorse Breeding and Conservation Centre breeding and rearing four species of seahorse (including spiny seahorses) in six large tanks, while smaller tanks are used to cultivate brine shrimp feed.
Another highlight is the Claws display of Common and Spiny Lobsters, Edible and Horseshoe Crabs, Mantis Shrimps and Giant Japanese Spider Crabs, which are one of the more outlandish elements of this family attraction, growing as they can three metres across – the biggest crabs in the world!
An educational aspect is added by a range of talks and feeding demonstrations from marine experts who may allow visitors to hand-feed sharks and rays, and hold starfish and crabs. Just the ticket for a memorable family day out.
Additionally, the Sealife Sanctuary Oban has undercover and outside forest grounds, a children's play area, a trim trail, nature trails and a new forest walk, all included in the ticket. Together with a new restaurant and magnificently aspected shoreline coffee shop and gift shop, it really makes for a great family day out.