AN abandoned otter sanctuary has been discovered by a content creator who ventured through the deserted centre, finding tanks still filled with water and animal feed.
The deserted aquarium stood empty for eight years before the urban explorer stepped inside, revealing tanks and cleaning products collecting dust.
Daniel Sims, 35, also known as BeardedReality on YouTube, filmed inside the UK’s first ever Sea Life Centre, a once renowned otter sanctuary.
Perched on the shores of Loch Creran in Oban, Scotland, the Barcaldine SeaLife centre opened in 1979 and remained open to visitors until 2018, when dwindling visitor numbers saw the sanctuary close.
The site has since remained deserted, leaving Daniel to roam freely through the vacant halls.
“I research abandoned places, and I came across an article about the SeaLife Centre shutting down a few years back – and I wanted to see if it was still there,” he said.
“The weather up there was absolutely crazy – it was completely flooded, we couldn’t really find the exact spot because it was so overgrown.
“Originally, we found the gift shop, and then we started seeing the other buildings around the sides – and realised that everything had just been left.”
Daniel said cleaning chemicals and hazardous materials had been left abandoned, alongside animal food.
The attraction also functioned as a seal rehabilitation centre, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about the native species.
“We spotted the otter area – there was a sign we could measure ourselves against to see what size otter we would be,” Daniel said.
“We saw quite a few signs of vandalism – one side of one of the tanks had been smashed. That must have taken some effort, because the glass in aquariums is really thick. I’ve no idea how they managed that.”
Many of the tanks remained untouched, leaving Daniel wondering “how they had managed it”, with a big circular tank still filled with water, untouched for more than eight years.
“The whole thing is really interesting – and the fact that it’s in such good condition is surprising!” Daniel said.
