If you like penguins, (and really, who doesn’t?), then you will want to head out to see us this weekend. On Sunday, April 25, 2010, SeaWorld San Antonio will celebrate World Penguin Day at the Penguin Encounter from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
We have a lot of activities planned that will include children’s crafts, educational presentations and the opportunity to see Magellanic penguins up close and chat with their keepers. Special “penguin art” will also be on sale with all proceeds to benefit the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. World Penguin Day is a celebration that coincides with the annual northern migration of penguins.
Minestrone the chinstrap penguin shows off his art piece.
The Penguin Encounter at SeaWorld San Antonio is home to penguins representing four sub-Antarctic species including king, gentoo, rockhopper and chinstrap. Most of our penguins swim and waddle in the 36-degree, snow-filled Encounter. Magellanic penguins, a warm-weather species native to Chile and Argentina, can be seen during the presentations.
Can’t make it out on Sunday? You can still celebrate World Penguin Day at home!
Test your knowledge about our feathered and flippered friends by taking our Penguin Poll.
Sakari, meaning “sweet,” is the newest addition to our killer whale family. Born to Takara on January 7, this little girl is growing and learning by leaps and bounds every day.
Recently Sakari has begun to explore her heightened sense of curiosity. Though she is still nursing, her mom has been sharing fish and Sakari has been playing with them quite frequently. Takara will shake a large salmon and share the pieces with Sakari, but Sakari will also take her own smaller fish when placed in the water in front of her. We are not yet certain if she actually ingests them, but the entertainment they provide her definitely lasts a while! We have documented the progression of weening to solid food with previous killer whale calves, and we are happy to say that Sakari is right on track.
Sakari pictured with her mother Takara
Sakari has also begun interacting with trainers, often soliciting tactile reinforcement. She will sit with us for brief sessions and let us rub her back, flippers, fin and flukes, repeatedly circling back for more. Sakari seems intrigued by the things given to her mom as well. She will play in the stream of a hose or watch intently as Takara receives a rubdown with a soft brush.
Just the other day, I watched Takara play with a plastic flower planter then set the toy in front of Sakari for her to investigate. Providing her with objects to manipulate stimulates her thinking and presents her with a puzzle to solve. Takara will not necessarily “spoon feed” Sakari on how to interact with different objects in her environment but will allow her to figure out what to do with the objects or create her own ways to play.
Our curious little calf is also discovering new things she can do. While a trainer was splashing water in front of her, Sakari mouthed at the water and gave her own little squirt in return. She will mimic her mother in waving her tail or jumping out of the water. One of my favorite memories so far is of Sakari trying to jump as high as she could out of the water. Takara sat back and watched as her calf sunk deep into the pool, paused a moment, then swam as fast as she could towards the surface then up into the air!
Sakari jumping out of the water
Observing such interactions gives us insight into how killer whales develop and teach their young. At times, Takara will physically manipulate Sakari to place her where she wants her. In other circumstances, Takara will show her a behavior and wait for her to mimic it. By watching the fish sharing, we see how Takara is actually determining the schedule on which Sakari will transfer from milk to fish. It also contributes to our pool of information that helps us in analyzing the development of calves in the future.
I am fascinated every day by the things Sakari learns and tries. Watching this discovery process along with the gentle nurturing and guidance of Takara has quickly become the highlight of my days. I am amused by Sakari’s playfulness and inquisitiveness, but I am utterly amazed by her mother’s protection, instruction and care.
Come meet Ginobili at the Animal Connections Conservation Center
Who is a native of Argentina, often seen in black and white, runs very fast and has powerful limbs, currently lives in San Antonio, and when you see him, you will probably be reminded of a basketball?
This week, I would like to introduce you to another member of our Animal Ambassador Team, Ginobili the Argentine giant tegu. Giant tegus are the largest of the tegu species, with distinctive patterns of white and black dots and stripes over their entire body. They are omnivores, and here at SeaWorld, Ginobili enjoys a rounded diet of rodents, fruits, and vegetables.
Tegus use their long tongues to capture scents from the air.
Much like other reptiles, tegus have forked tongues which they use to sense smell. If you have an opportunity to visit with Ginobili over at the Animal Connections Conservation Center, you’ll notice that he often will flick his tongue, which captures scent particles in the air. Those scent particles are then taken into his Jacobson’s Organ, which is a sensory organ on the roof of his mouth for processing the scent. Interpreting scents tells tegus like Ginobili lots of information about their surroundings.
Another thing that many guests notice about Ginobili is his large jowls. These chubby cheeks are a secondary male characteristic, and may help him look attractive to female tegus.
Argentine giant tegus can make great pets under the right conditions. They are known to be docile and highly intelligent. However they require a lot of specialized care, including controlled temperature, humidity, light, and the right type of substrate for burrowing. As their name implies, Argentine giant tegus can grow to be very large (up to 4.5 feet and 20 lbs), and need a lot of space. Ginobili originally came from a family who purchased him from a pet store, but did not realize how large he would be. He soon outgrew the space in their apartment and was adopted by SeaWorld.
Ginobili meets SeaWorld Adventure Campers
The next time you’re at SeaWorld, don’t forget to stop by the Animal Connections Conservation Center and say hello to Ginobili and the other members of the Animal Ambassador Team. In addition to many opportunities to meet, touch, and learn about animals, you will also find out about SeaWorld’s conservation efforts locally and around the world. See you there!
The next time you come to see the new Whale and Dolphin show at the park, look over to the right. You might see me playing with one of the newest members of the show team, Qinu. She was a Beluga Whale born at the park on July 31, 2008.
Qinu and trainer during the all-new Azul show
After nursing and bonding with her mom, she has become more independent and interacts with us poolside while mom performs in the show. This is our time with her to begin building relationships with us as trainers. This will help with trust and we can teach her all the behaviors she needs to know for the show, for physical exams, and for exercise. She is also getting used to an environment with lights, synchronized swimmers, and guests abound. Belugas are known for their huge flight response when something is foreign or startling.
Qinu getting a fish from trainer, Amanda Jakubowski
By Qinu seeing lots of new things, and seeing that we are there and nothing bad will happen, we are preparing her for all the possibilities that life at the park will entail. She is learning basic control while in the show, which means she will stay calm with her own trainer. She is learning how to roll over so that we can get a full check of her body. She is also learning to slide all the way out of the water and onto the scale, something all of our adults do. Weighing them weekly makes sure the animals are gaining or maintaining weight.
Amanda working hand targets with Qinu
Lastly, Qinu will soon hold for her first fluke present so that our veterinarians can draw blood. This is for her yearly physical. By training the animals to allow these behaviors, we do not have to restrain or sedate them. This allows us to take better care of the animals. So why you see that little baby whale in the show for a short period of time, know that her day is full of lots of learning and playing!
Here at SeaWorld San Antonio our dolphin family has been growing almost every year. Our breeding programs include natural breeding as well as the use of artificial insemination. By artificially inseminating females it allows the parks to maintain genetic diversity without having to move dolphins from park to park.
The age a female dolphin becomes sexually mature can vary, but it averages 5 to 12 years. The gestation period for female bottlenose dolphins is about 12 months and when a dolphin calf is born it weighs 22 to 44 pounds and is 39 to 53 inches long. Bottlenose dolphin calves can be born throughout the year, but our dolphins at SeaWorld San Antonio tend to calve in the summer or fall.
The calves are generally born tail first, but successful head first births have been observed. When a calf is first born and for a few days after birth the calf’s dorsal fin and tail flukes are soft and gradually stiffen. This is because these fins are curled up while in the womb to allow the calf to pass through the birth canal.
The calf will generally begin nursing within a few hours of birth. At first the calf will only nurse for a few seconds at a time, but as it gains experience the length of time increases. They will usually nurse in brief increments of about ten seconds at a time every hour. A dolphin calf will generally nurse for about 18 months, but will start to show interest in fish at about three to four months when their teeth begin to erupt.
Mattie and her calf
A female bottlenose dolphin can have a calf about every three years, but this can vary from individual to individual. Young females will usually be placed with an experienced mother to learn about caring for a calf. Many mother dolphins will use another dolphin as an assistant with their calf. This dolphin is referred to as an “auntie.” At our park, female dolphins will usually give birth in our back support pools with one or more other females. Once the calf is older and beginning to eat fish we will move them to the Dolphin Cove exhibit.
At SeaWorld San Antonio we actually have a four generation dolphin family that began with Notchfin, who is now in her mid thirties. Her daughter Nacha has had multiple calves and is a great mom. Nacha’s eight-year-old daughter Nikki had her first calf almost three years ago named Nueces.
For more reading about dolphins, you can also visit our sister park, Discovery Cove’s special page about their dolphin program and you can learn more about our work and commitment to animals on the SeaWorld Park blog’s Caring for Animals page.
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.
Ask anyone in the Zoological Operations Department at SeaWorld about how their career working with animals began, and I’m positive that most of the answers you hear will be very similar to my own.
When SeaWorld San Antonio opened in 1988, my family got season passes right away. I remember my first Shamu show so clearly, I can tell you what seat I was sitting in. As I saw the killer whales up close for the first time, I knew, right at that very moment, what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to learn as much as I possibly could about the ocean, and when I grew up, I wanted to work with ocean animals.
Today, over twenty two years later, I have one of the best jobs in the world. I don’t work with animals every day, I don’t get to play with Shamu, and most of my work is behind the scenes, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. What I love about my work here is that I understand that things that start right here in the Education and Conservation Department have the power to reach thousands of families, campers, scouts, and students through our programs and presence at the animal habitats.
When I first started as a tour guide over eleven years ago, I was very excited about being around the animals. Over time, I started to realize that what made me look forward to being here was the chance to get others as excited about the animals as I was. It was always so rewarding to change people’s perspectives about the animals from simply cute, or funny, or maybe even a little scary to helping them realize the bigger picture of how the animals fit into the ecosystems of the ocean.
Sharks were no longer fearsome and mysterious, but beautiful animals with an important role in making ocean populations healthier. The strength, intelligence, and agility of killer whales were not only for showcasing behaviors at a Shamu show, but vital adaptations that allow this species to be the top predators that they are.
Today, as a Manager in the Education and Conservation Department, a good portion of what I do involves animal information training with the staff. They come in; excited to be here and work around animals, just like I was all those years ago. They spend their first few days with me, and I feel that my job is not only to teach them about the animals, but how to engage guests and instill the same passion about wildlife that we share.
I really do believe that the core of SeaWorld’s gift is that animal knowledge, and being able to confidently and effectively bridge the natural world to the minds and hearts of the guests we come into contact with every day, whether they are campers, school children, a family on a tour, or a group of guests having a conversation with an instructor in front of an exhibit. Many people come into the park already liking animals, but I hope that after spending time with one of us, they leave liking them a little bit more, perhaps caring enough to want to make the small changes that make a larger impact in conservation. Maybe they will be inspired to start recycling at home, or contribute to our conservation fund, plant a garden, or think twice before they throw trash on the ground.
We truly are ambassadors for these animals, and you never know when that “spark” might be lit in one of our guests that will lead to greater efforts for conservation in the future.
This past weekend audiences got a sneak peek of “Azul.” Here are some photos from the first performances. This Friday, March 12, Azul officially opens.
Come join me and experience the lure of the sea…….
Shows are a very small part of an animal’s day here at SeaWorld. They are learning new behaviors, getting their check-ups and of course playing. We have an extensive enrichment program here at the park for all of the species we care for—from fish to whales. Environmental enrichment keeps the animals’ days engaging.
Our animals are so well cared for that their food and shelter are provided for them. Their days are also not filled with escaping from predators, so giving them environmental enrichment devices (EEDs), in other words playing with their toys, keeps the day fresh. We want to make sure all the animals get the mental stimulation they require as well as being in great physical shape. In fact, some of the animals even paint.
Sea lion art
The sea lions, Asian small-clawed otters, Pacific white-sided dolphins, penguins, walruses and even killer whales all have an artistic side to them. We use different kinds of kid-safe paint since some of the animals will stick their faces and feet in the paint. Walruses use their vibrissae (whiskers) to dip into the paint and push onto the canvas. The sea lions use a paintbrush with a modified handle they can hold in their mouth.
One of our California sea lions creating a painting with the modified paintbrush
The dolphins and killer whales use their beautifully sculpted flukes to press against the canvas. The otters and penguins use their feet for their paintbrushes.
An Asian small-clawed otter creating a piece of art
The paintings the animals create are not sold in gift shops. These unique pieces of art are only donated to charities for fundraising, such as the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.
SeaWorld is taking animal and human interaction to a whole new level.
Some feathered friends, including brightly hued macaws (like the one pictured) and sun conures, will be joining the cast and crew.
Picture yourself seated at the park’s 3,000-seat Beluga Stadium. Gaze toward the stage and watch as the beautiful new scenic elements, lighting, a cast of 22 high divers, synchronized swimmers, aerialists, bungee artists, animal trainers in colorful new costumes, and of course the real stars of the show, acrobatic Pacific white-sided dolphins and graceful beluga whales present a mystical atmosphere.
Now close your eyes for a brief moment and let your ears fill with the original music and enhanced sounds. All of this comes together to bring you, “Azul: Lure of the Sea.”
Dan Decker, the park’s executive vice president and general manager, tells us that, “Our lively new spectacle focuses on a curious ‘tourist’ who is transported to a land of strange and mystical air, land and sea creatures. “Azul” will introduce the tourist to the audience in a comical pre-show routine, so it’s important not to miss anything.”
The whole family is sure to enjoy “Azul” time and time again. This amazing show is set to premier on Friday, March 12. Don’t miss out on being some of the first to see the show. Make sure to tell us what you think about “Azul” after the premier on our Facebook fan page.
Wave TV is SeaWorld’s bi-weekly video feature program created for team members. Wave TV debuted in 2005 and was originally conceived to showcase park events for team members as they rode the shuttle bus to their workstation. Last year, this award-winning communications program moved to the SeaWorld YouTube channel; now everyone can share the program. Check out what’s new behind the scenes at SeaWorld San Antonio.
If you like penguins, (and really, who doesn’t?), then you will want to head out to see us this weekend. On Sunday, April 25, 2010, SeaWorld San Antonio will celebrate World Penguin Day at the Penguin Encounter from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ask anyone in the Zoological Operations Department at SeaWorld about how their career working with animals began, and I’m positive that most of the answers you hear will be very similar to my own.
populations healthier. The strength, intelligence, and agility of killer whales were not only for showcasing behaviors at a Shamu show, but vital adaptations that allow this species to be the top predators that they are.
