Super Seal Sense

Pinniped Trainers

Have you ever worked with pinnipeds and felt a bond with them?
We would love to hear from you! We are conducting a new Pinniped Companionship Questionnaire, designed to explore the unique and meaningful connections people form with these incredible animals.

🐋 Who can take part?
Anyone who has worked with pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, or walruses), whether in zoos, aquariums and rehabilitation settings, and feels they have developed a companionship bond with one or more individuals.

🐬 What’s involved?
A 10–15-minute questionnaire, depending on how many pinniped "besties" you’d like to share.

💙 Why take part?
Your experiences will help deepen our understanding of human–animal bonds in professional pinniped care and research, highlighting the emotional and welfare dimensions of these relationships.

📅 Deadline: January 31st, 2026

📩 Questions or want more info?
For full details on the research or if you have any questions, please contact Dr Alyx Elder [email protected] or Tom Welsh [email protected]

🦭 Ready to take part?
Click here to complete the survey:👉 Pinniped Companionship Questionnaire (https://forms.office.com/e/gzQeNW3FF3) or scan the QR code on the attached poster.

Thank you for helping us better understand the bonds between humans and pinnipeds — one flipper-friendship at a time!

Best fishes,
Alyx and Tom

Whiskers of Wonder! MIA for a long time because I have just been that busy! We also had some difficult time with the closure of the Seaquarium of Rhyl but I promise I have some exciting things coming 👀🩵🦭

How AMAZING does our new display look! 🤩🤩🤩

You can know learn all about the amazing research all our Pinnipeds are taking part in 🐟🦭🐟

Dolphin moms use ‘baby talk’ with their calves Striking similarities discovered between human and dolphin “motherese”

Me and my trusty companion 🩷🐆🩷

So excited for this over the next few days, presenting my research is always rather special but exploring new opportunities is very cool too 🩵

Something exciting has been happening 🤩

A very exciting trip today… to deliver a new toy to the super seal Selena and her amazing trainers 💜

🌎💙 It’s world sea-lion day! 💙🌎

Oooohhh I have so many photos of all the sealions I have had the pleasure of working along side. I am forever grateful for the life they have given me 💙

I think this calls for a sea-lion reel! 🤍

I have loved watching these videos recently the seals little personalities are shining through and it’s so nice to see…. This is how you look when you get caught sneaking some snacks into work 😂🥰

I’ve also been catching up with my old babies too

Whisker scanning has been in full swing these last few weeks but the questions is…. Can you identify all SIX whiskers?! 👀