• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at

Today

• Vienna - VESCC English Catholic Mass
• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna - Childrens Fun
• Vienna - Palais Lichtenstein

© Tiergarten Schönbrunn/Norbert Potensky

20. 11. 12. - 14:00

• more General News news
• RSS Feed General News

20. 11. 12. - 14:00

Baby seal takes her place with the colony

This baby seal which was left alone after her mother died has been allowed to swim with the rest of the colony despite being raised by keepers at Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna.

Baby Lunita's mother Enya died shortly after she was born and it was uncertain whether the baby seal would survive after she had to be raised by humans.

But now head carer Thomas Voracek says that the baby is out of danger and weighs close to 30 kg. She is also and old enough to take a place with the other seals  – and Voracek said he was confident she was now old enough to remain with her relatives.

She was not completely isolated when being bottel fed – other female seals were allowed in to see her. Now she is feeding on fish getting through 3 kg of herring a day.

Zoo director Dagmar Schratter said: "We wanted her to get used to others of her kind, and it paid off. She was completely comfortable with the rest of the group and accepted."

During feeding time the youngster has little chance to compete on getting a fish from the water with her relatives and as a result gets a portion fed to her separately.

Vienna Times

Birth balance negative once again
The birth balance of 2012 has been negative for the first time in three years. This was due to an increase in deaths. Another trend is that women give birth to their first child when they are older.

Suspected fraud in community flats sector
Five recently renovated community flats are being taken apart again. The state-housing organisation "Wiener Wohnen" is examining whether the renovation works have been carried out properly.

Long Night of the Churches tonight
The programme of "Long Night of the Churches" offers hundreds of events in Vienna alone. It partly focuses on the topic of asylum. The question whether aliens go to heaven will also be discussed.

Army officer sentenced over getting recruits to lay flooring at his house
The state court of Vienna sentenced a second lieutenant of the Austrian Army to nine months in jail due to misuse of authority. He had three recruits lay the flooring in his own house.

Child injured on zebra crossing
A ten-year-old girl was severely injured in a car accident in Vienna-Margareten yesterday (Wed). A car hit her on a zebra crossing. It remained unclear whether the girl or the driver was supposed to wait.

Long Night of the Churches
Hundreds of churches Austria-wide to open their doors for the "Long Night of the Churches" (original: "Langen Nacht der Kirchen") on May, 24.

Cheapskate Tourist Almost Died In Sewer Visit
A German tourist had a lucky escape after he decided to go underground to get a view of the Vienna sewers, and fell badly breaking several bones including his hip and his leg.

Preparation for Life Ball begins
The preparations of the Life Ball in Vienna are at full blast after delays due to bad weather last weekend. Star guests like Eva Longoria and Carmen Electra are expected at Vienna Airport on Friday.

Woman killed by Vienna tram
A female pedestrian tried to cross a street in Vienna Hietzing yesterday afternoon (Tues) without paying attention to the traffic. She was hit by the tram number 60 and died at the scene.

15 minutes free parking instead of 10
The 15-minute parking ticket will replace the 10-minute parking ticket in autumn. The only alternative is to buy your parking ticket with your phone. A parking clock does not protect you from a fine.