Thembeka

Sex: Female

History: Thembeka means “Hope” in Zulu. She was one of ten pups to strand onto a beach in Port Elizabeth after a bad storm. She still had her umbilical chord attached to her. She arrived at uShaka Sea World on 6th January 1998. She now weighs over 60kg. Thembeka has wavy hair, unlike other seals that have short straight hair.

Character: She has a curious nature.

Activities: She enjoys exploring her environment, playing with ice and pull toys.

Fact: A South African fur seals’ body temperature is between 36.5° C – 37.5° C. Thick layers of under fur effectively insulate the seal from its environment. Air trapped in the fur keeps the skin dry and warm. Seals conserve heat by lying on top of their flippers.