Blank Park Zoo’s newest resident is now in Iowa through some unconventional means: FedEx. Now that’s what you call a successful delivery.
Walnut is a 4-year-old male harbor seal born at the Los Angeles Zoo. He arrived safely in Iowa on June 9 after a flight from Los Angeles to Omaha, with a stop in Memphis. He rode from Omaha to Des Moines in a Blank Park Zoo vehicle.
“After we loaded Walnut into our vehicle, I had to sign the FedEx delivery paperwork, like with any other FedEx shipment,” said Blank Park Zoo Chief Animal Officer Jay Tetzloff. “It’s not every day you sign for a harbor seal. It was a fun reminder of the incredible collaboration that made this move possible.”
Blank Park Zoo, with the help of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, collaborated with FedEx, the Los Angeles Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego to bring Walnut to his new home.
Walnut arrived after the death of Ross, a longtime beloved harbor seal who passed on May 26.
Walunt is expected to join California sea lions Zoey and Meatball in Blank Park Zoo’s Hub Harbor in July.
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How do you ship a seal from California to the Midwest? FedEx.
Reporting by Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
