Sealife Munich opens again: the sharks lack people

You are not allowed to give exact numbers here. The parent company Merlin Entertainments does not seem to allow that. Just this much: “Before the pandemic, we had an annual turnover of millions. And suddenly that was missing overnight after the lockdown,” says Verbaast, pointing out the operating costs: “We can’t just switch off electricity and water.”

Sealife Munich wakes up from its slumber

This turnover of yore even called a billion dollar private investor on the scene: the Danish stock corporation Kirkbi, and their boss Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, better known as one of the lego founder’s heirs. At the end of 2019, Kirkbi bought into Merlin Entertainments. But back to Munich. It is completely unclear when sales of millions can be made again. Because as soon as the gates open, you can only let in a third of the visitors with the limits set by the hygiene concept. Still: finally. In the lockdowns, the “Sleeping Beauty” as Verbaast calls it, the great emptiness was the worst aspect.

“Imagine your business is designed to receive guests, to offer them a great time at Sealife. And suddenly they are no longer allowed to do that, like all their colleagues from the catering and hotel industry,” says Verbaast. On Monday there is a lot of activity in Sealife Munich, before the first Munich residents enter the giant aquarium again on Friday – of course only with an FFP2 mask and the usual applicable distance and hygiene rules. Disinfectant dispensers are set up everywhere in Sealife. The dust is wiped off and the isolated cobwebs are removed. And above all: the insides of the aquariums have to shine again soon.

Sealife Munich is almost 15 years old: the birthday party has to be canceled

Aquarist and curator Serdar Karagöz (41) is one of Verbaast’s most important employees. The boss says it himself. “Here comes the man without whom nothing would work here,” says Verbaast. Karagöz has been working here for 13 years. So almost from the beginning. Because the Sealife Munich is almost 15 years old. They actually wanted to celebrate this milestone birthday on April 8th, together with visitors and many invited guests. But nothing will come of it for the time being. We are already happy about the reopening this week.

Visitors should also be offered something new in the open air. “We have agreed to cooperate with the reptile sanctuary,” says Verbaast. He doesn’t want to reveal any more details yet. Only this much: “There will be frogs and lizards.” Every hotel and every economy could simply lock up during the lockdown in order to keep costs as low as possible – at least, even if that is of course a very small consolation. But the Sealife is similar to the Hellabrunn Zoo.

“Animals also lack people,” says Karagöz

The sea, lake and river inhabitants – as well as the many pumps and generators – still needed the routine attention and care of the shrunken Sea-life team. Karagöz checked the water, the quality, the temperature, the number of animals and the functioning of the devices. Every morning, as if the many children and adults were about to pour in.

But it just remained empty, as in the infinite silence of the ocean depths. Only the hum of the pumps and generators could be heard. “This is a very unusual situation,” says Karagöz, who has very little social contact. “Animals also lack people,” says Karagöz. “Sharks can feel your heartbeat, many fish can distinguish colors and follow visitors when they walk by. Of course, they miss that.”

Sealife online tickets only

If you want to visit the Sealife in the Olympiapark again from Friday, you must have purchased an online ticket beforehand. A free time window (“time slot”) must be selected here. Attention: You cannot buy tickets on site at the cash desks, without exception. Only those who book an online ticket in advance can show the receipt and pick up their card at the cash desk. Access is limited to 60 people per 30 minutes. The usual AHA rules must be observed. There are markings inside the sealife. You can use them as a guide to keep the right distance. Households that arrive together do not have to keep a distance from one another in the underwater world. Anyone who already has a ticket (annual tickets, disabled tickets, children’s birthday tickets) must also choose a time slot online. There are maps and more information here.

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