Large shipyard intends to ‘adopt’ Jupiter.
The Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex has signed a letter of intent with the Primorsky Aquarium. The document reflects an initiative of the shipyard to patronize one of the Aquarium inhabitants – a 3-moths-old pup of the spotted seal called Jupiter. Its birth has become a major step forward in science as Jupiter is the world’s first spotted seal conceived, gestated, born and reared in captivity.
According to Sergey Tseluiko, Managing Director of the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex, signing the letter of intent is a milestone both for the enterprise and for the Aquarium. Within the framework of the partnership the shipyard will construct a new enclosure with training infrastructure for Jupiter and its peers. “Experts of the Zvezda Complex and the Primorsky Aquarium have jointly developed a technical design, and soon we will proceed with the construction of the enclosure," said Sergey Tseluiko. "We will continue to monitor the fate of Jupiter and, as far as possible, assist in keeping the spotted seal. Let Jupiter be another star of our region and a living illustration of the fact that here one deals with truly competent and dedicated professionals. The Zvezda (zvezda – “star”) shipyard in Bolshoi Kamen will support the animal!"
The Primorsky Aquarium has been implementing a spotted seal research project since 2015.Our biologists conduct scientific investigation (including studies in animal psychology) of the marine mammals, and now, thanks to Jupiter, they possess unique data on the species reproduction: the developing pup was periodically examined with ultrasonography long before its birth. The researchers believe that collaboration with the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex will provide them with additional opportunities for a large-scale study.
