Albino ginger seal rejected by family now star attraction at Russian zoo

(via)

An albino seal that was rejected by his family for ‘being ginger’ has become a huge hit with tourists at her new home in Russia.

Heartbreaking images of the seal were first taken by photographer Anatoly Strakhov, who saw her hiding under logs on Tyuleniy Island, Russia.

But, after a 7,890-mile trip to the Russian mainland, the little seal, named Nafanya after a lookalike Soviet cartoon character, is now the star attraction at the Akvatoria dolphinarium.

Yulia Frolova, head of the centre, told the Daily Mail: ‘She now has a special enclosure with a pool, and two weeks after her arrival, people are already coming to see her.

‘She has a good appetite, and always seems in a happy mood. She is such an unusual seal with very beautiful bright blue eyes.’

Ms Frolova also said that she ‘has a playful nature’ and ‘loves to play with her toy - a small blue ball’, adding: ‘Nafanya is such a lovely animal and is certainly not afraid of people.’

And, more good news is that she is not blind, as first feared, and only has trouble seeing in bright sunshine.

She is yet to make any new seal friends, however, as she is on a month-long quarantine. But Yulia assured everyone she will one day have playmates, saying: ‘We cannot yet let her swim with our other creatures as she is on a month-long quarantine, but we will do later.

‘We will make sure she has a happy life in our dolphinarium.’