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A Special “Boarding Pass” for Mizore the Seal’s Move from Kaiyukan Aquarium: A Heartwarming Gesture by ANA Praised as “Wonderful” and “Touching”
A Ticket Filled with Kindness: “Stay healthy in Hokkaido!”
I love things like this
Source: Post by @musca_zoolife
This post was made by a user who visited Otaru Aquarium. The post, captioned “I love things like this,” features a boarding pass issued for Mizore when he came to Hokkaido. A closer look reveals an adorable photo of Mizore along with the text “From Kaiyukan → To Otaru Aquarium.”
The boarding pass, for a flight from Osaka's Itami Airport (near Kaiyukan where Mizore was born) to New Chitose Airport (the closest airport to Otaru Aquarium), includes the destination, name, departure date and time, flight number, and even a seat number, just like a human's. There's even a message! It truly shows how much Mizore was loved in Osaka.
Who is Mizore, the “Angelic Seal”?
Image courtesy of Otaru Aquarium
Mizore was born on April 1, 2021, at the Kaiyukan Aquarium in Osaka. He was the first ringed seal in Japan to be fully hand-reared. With his pure white, fluffy baby fur, he was incredibly cute and became hugely popular as the “angelic seal.” In November 2023, he moved 1,000 kilometers to Otaru Aquarium for breeding purposes.
His popularity continues to this day, and many fans travel from far and wide to see him.
A TV Crew Followed His 1,000-Kilometer Journey
Image courtesy of ANA Cargo
Mizore traveled a distance of 1,000 kilometers, and you might be surprised to learn that a seal can fly on a plane. Generally, animals travel as cargo in the aircraft's hold. Transporting aquarium animals by air, especially in a waterless environment, is done with the utmost care.
Mizore's entire move was documented by a television crew. They recorded him saying goodbye to the Kaiyukan staff and being carefully loaded onto the plane in a wooden crate.
The Boarding Pass Was ANA's Idea!
Image courtesy of ANA Cargo
Normally, when animals like dogs and cats are transported as cargo, they are not issued a human-like boarding pass. We spoke with ANA Cargo, the company that transported Mizore.
We learned that Mizore was a beloved star at Kaiyukan, adored by many visitors, and raised with great love and care by the Kaiyukan keepers. With this in mind, we wanted to welcome him aboard not just as cargo, but as a passenger. The idea to create a special boarding pass came from one of our employees.
This shows just how popular the much-loved Mizore is, and the warm-heartedness of the ANA staff.
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