Gimli

Sex: Female

History: Gimli was named after a character in “Lord of the Rings”, but is fondly known as “Weasel”. She was born at uShaka Sea World to parents Siggi and Benji on 21st November 1986. Gimli has the longest whiskers of all the seals at uShaka Sea World.

Character: She is proud and confident.

Activities: She enjoys being massaged by water hoses and swimming over divers’ bubbles.

Fact: Seal whiskers grow to 8-9cm in length, but can reach lengths of up to 48cm. Whiskers are tactile structures, well supplied with muscles and nerves. Seals use their whiskers to sense vibrations made in the water up to 2m away. Whiskers are also used to show emotion. They are brought forward for investigation of the environment or a neighbour or used together with eye movement and the mouth as a sign of submission or a threat.

Gimli celebrated her 25th birthday on 22 November 2011 with friends and uShaka Sea World staff and a special birthday cake. Scroll down to read more about her birthday!