Scan Magazine | Issue 78 | July 2015

Page 63

2_Q9_ScanMag_78_July_2015_Text_JOE _Scan Magazine 1 07/07/2015 15:47 Page 63

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Culture in Norway

You may wonder what made Knut such a lucky man to be the “chief rooster in the basket”. While there may not be a good explanation for this, we can offer a reason for the name. Knut is named after the Aquarium’s former general manager whom is now retired. “It seemed very appropriate,” Giske Andersen says with a smile. Putting animal welfare at the top

Photo: Per Eide

Aquaria). They are one of the most popular attractions, the feeding particularly popular – and the feeders know how to please the crowd with their outfit bearing similarities to a morning suit. Feeding time is generally very popular, and the diver’s show is the ultimate experience as visitors can take part in the entertainment from a glass window placed into the pool. “They witness how well the divers interact with the fish, and how the different species have very different personalities. Luckily we do not have any bad fishes there,” Giske Andersen laughs. Another very popular attraction is the activity room, a room where visitors can feed

and pet small fish, crabs and starfish, as well as learning more about how they live and function. Opening of the new seal pool A much anticipated opening took place in September 2014, namely the opening of the massive new seal pool. An outdoor pool located just on the side of the ocean is the home of seven seals. “It is Knut and the ladies,” Giske Andersen says. Knut, the chief male in the pool, was brought from the Lofoten Islands further north in Norway, while the ladies are brought from different aquariums around Europe. “Here they have founded their own little colony, and live as close to their natural ways as possible,” Giske Andersen says.

In a time when animal welfare awareness is on the rise, many zoos and aquariums are under intense pressure to ensure they are treating their inhabitants right. For Ålesund Aquarium this has always been top priority. “It also comes naturally as we want to showcase the world in and under the sea in its natural form. The aquarium was built on top of the nature and we kept the nature as it was, everything inside the tanks is real. This is as close as it gets to their natural habitat, and still be served free meals,” Giske Andersen says. For more information, please visit: www.atlanterhavsparken.no and www.visitalesund.com

Photo: Per Eide

Photo: Roger Engvik

Issue 78 | July 2015 | 63


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