Visit with Susie at Animal ConnectionsThe next time you're visiting SeaWorld, make sure you take a few minutes to stop by and experience our newest place to meet some amazing animals.
Over near the Games Center, between The Great White and Texas Splashdown, you will have the chance to meet some of our animal ambassadors in the Animal Connections Conservation Center.
We are very excited about this new area, because not only are we able to introduce guests to animals from around the world, but we are also able to share stories about projects that are helping animals globally assisted by the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.
The area has information about how SeaWorld San Antonio team members are helping locally by recycling, volunteering, and saving energy, and we also share with our guests ideas for helping animals in their own backyard.
Animal Ambassador and Cockatoo, Susie
Our animal ambassadors help us tell these stories, and this week, I would like to introduce you to Susie, the umbrella cockatoo. Susie usually resides in her aviary, right at the entrance into the Conservation Center, and greets many guests as they make their way into the building.
Umbrella cockatoos are naturally found up in the forest canopies in Indonesia. The first thing most guests notice about Susie is her bright white color, which helps her hide from predators by allowing her to blend in with the white flowers found in the tree-tops. Their umbrella-shaped crest is normally flat on their head, but it is raised in times of excitement or curiosity.
The beak is grayish-black, curved, and very powerful. Cockatoos use their large beak to hollow out trees to build a nest. Their diet consists of fruit, seeds, nuts, vegetables, and berries. Cockatoos use their feet extensively when feeding, holding their food in one foot while breaking off bite-sized pieces with the other foot.
Cockatoos like Susie do make good pets, and are actually referred to as “Velcro birds” because they are so affectionate and bond closely with their owners. But before you make the decision to add an umbrella cockatoo to your family, there are a few things to keep in mind. As with any pet, make sure you know what type of commitment you are making. Susie actually came to live with us at SeaWorld because her former owners were not prepared for the amount of care a cockatoo requires. Besides feeding and cleaning up after your animal, you also have to ensure that its social needs are being met. It's important to have a clear understanding of the length of your commitment as well. Umbrella cockatoos live into their 70s, so you have to plan for very long term care.
Umbrella cockatoos are listed as a vulnerable species because their numbers in the wild have declined due to habitat loss and illegal trapping for the pet trade. If you decide to bring a tropical bird into your home, make sure that it either comes from a reputable breeder, or if the bird has been imported, check for the circular stainless-steel, USDA-approved leg band, always engraved with three letters and three numbers. Every year, around 25,000 birds are illegally smuggled into the United States. Smuggled birds that don't die from illness or stress are often disease carriers, so it is very important to know the origin of the bird you are interested in for your home.
We hope that during your next visit to the park you find your way over to say hello to Susie and the rest of our ambassador animals. There are plenty of opportunities throughout the day to meet, touch, and perhaps even have a photo taken with them. Keep watching the blog as well; I'll be introducing you to other members of the animal team as the weeks go on.
See you in the park!
