Archive for the ‘News’ Category
June 9, 2010 by KellyMorales • 4 Comments »
Posted in News, animals
 Wheezie and her pup bond at Rocky Point Preserve SeaWorld San Antonio is very proud to announce the newest addition to our California sea lion family! Early Monday morning, Wheezie gave birth to her first pup at Rocky Point Preserve.
After a total gestation period of 11 to 11.5 months, sea lion pups are usually born on land, and are, on average, about 30 inches long, and weigh about 13 pounds. California sea lions are among mammals that have a special adaptation called “delayed implantation”. This allows the fertilized egg to delay attaching to the wall of the uterus for about 2 to 3 months. This assures the pups will be born during the best time of year for good weather conditions and abundant food sources.
Vocal cues, or sounds by the mother and pup sea lions may be the most important factor in mother-pup recognition. The female sea lion vocalizes often during and immediately after the birth of her pup. The pup instinctively replies. This vocal interaction may continue for 20 minutes or more. This helps establish the mother-pup bond. The mother may also smell, nuzzle, pull, and nip at her pup.
Most sea lion pups are born in late June. Pups are well developed at birth. They are born with their eyes open and can vocalize. Within 30 minutes they are able to shake, groom, scratch, and walk. Pups appear to be able to swim a little at birth, although they made need a little help from their mothers. Keepers from our Animal Care department have shared that it is always a fun experience to watch the sea lion mothers give their pups “swimming lessons” as they develop their coordination.
You can visit with Wheezie and her pup, along with the rest of our seal and sea lion community, daily at Rocky Point Preserve. Hope to see you there soon!
March 30, 2010 by Tim Morrow • 7 Comments »
Posted in Around the Park, Events, News
SeaWorld San Antonio is now heading into our third year of Bands, Brew & BBQ! We have moved locations, added festivals, street entertainment and made lots of adjustments over the last couple of years. This year’s festival should be a great one!
This year we decided to change it up a bit when the event was held over three weekends on Saturdays. We wanted to park to have that festival feeling all weekend long so we added a fourth concert and decided to have shows on Saturdays and Sundays for two weekends. We took a look around San Antonio and South Texas to see what was happening in the music scene. We reviewed guest surveys from the last two BBQ events and decided to make a change in music styles. This year we went with Classic Rock!
We fittingly kick off the event with The Commodores on Saturday, April 10. After all Motown is legendary for being the roots of what we now call Rock and Roll! The following day we have Bret Michaels. Bret was the lead singer from the hugely popular ’80s band “Poison,” has had his own TV reality show on VH1 and is now on Celebrity Apprentice. His solo work has proven to be very popular and we think this show will be a great one!
  The next weekend we chose some ’70s Rock and Roll on Saturday with Grand Funk Railroad! These guys have been rockin’ for a long time with lots of classic hits like “We’re an American Band.” This show is going to be a blast.
Our grand finale for this year’s event is Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. Pat has made a ton of hits and we are all looking forward to her performance. She recently played Bands Brews & BBQ at Busch Gardens Tampa and we hear it was amazing!
The concerts will be held in Nautilus Amphitheater which is nice because it has a roof, seating and standing areas for our guests to see the show. The sound and lights in this building are great so it is always an outstanding show. On the street in front of Nautilus there will be a festival featuring some very cool vendors, band merchandise, radio station remotes, ice cold beer, BBQ and of course, more BBQ!
You will need to get to SeaWorld early for these concerts for sure! As our events grow, so does their popularity. While the concerts are included in admission, we issue wristbands to each guest on a first come first serve basis. Once they are gone that means the show is full. We also have a VIP Package available that includes early entry into the venue and a meal! If you don’t get a wristband you can always sit in the grassy area around Nautilus to catch the show as well.
Check out our events page for all of our upcoming concerts, festivals and holidays! 2010 is going to be amazing!
February 18, 2010 by JenniferBailey • 7 Comments »
Posted in News
Did you know that Annual Pass Members receive a 20% discounts this year? Yes, that’s right! This is double what pass members were usually saving in previous years. We are offering our Annual Pass Members this amazing discount on select in-park purchases through January 2, 2011. Items include food, merchandise, the Beluga Interaction Program, the Sea Lion Interaction Program, behind-the-scenes tours, day camps, sleepovers, electric and manual wheelchairs, wagons and strollers.
The Annual Passes are a great deal because you also receive general parking along with the 20% in-park discounts. Each time you visit the park don’t forget to ask the team member at the register for your 20% savings at the time of purchase. Even when you call our 800-700-7786 number to make a reservation for one of our Interaction Programs or one of our education programs/tours, be sure to ask about the 20% discount.
 Team members are going through the training process for the new touch screen registers that are programmed with the new 20% discount. Hope to see you soon visiting the park with your Annual Pass in-hand!
Your Personal Pass Representative,
Jennifer
February 11, 2010 by SuzyBehne • 3 Comments »
Posted in Events, News, animals
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.
January 7, 2010 by DanDecker • 51 Comments »
Posted in News, animals
It’s a whale! Takara, an 18-year-old, 5,080-pound killer whale, gave birth to a calf today in the main pool of SeaWorld San Antonio’s Shamu Theater. The calf arrived at approximately 7:15 a.m. after a short period of labor.
This is an exciting event for our team members and our guests, but the first days and weeks for a young killer whale are critical. SeaWorld’s Zoological Operations will be monitoring Takara and her calf round-the-clock, watching for nursing behavior, regular respirations and other positive vital signs.
We will keep you posted on the progress.
December 23, 2009 by LesliePopiel • Comments Off
Posted in News
That’s one of the things I love about Christmastime. It’s the season of giving, of looking past yourself and seeing the needs of others. It’s about sharing what you’ve been given with someone who may need it more. Sheri Soltes does this all year round.
Recently I visited Texas Hearing and Service Dogs, a non-profit organization with a fantastic mission. Founder Sheri Soltes rescues dogs from local animal shelters and with the help of a very dedicated staff, teaches the animals to assist people with physical challenges. Not only do the people gain a freedom they would not otherwise have, the dogs get a new lease on life.
In 1995, Sheri let us join in the fun. She contacted Dave Force, our former Vice President of Animal Training then Zoological Operations at SeaWorld San Antonio seeking our philosophy in training animals. The relationship has grown ever since. Steve Aibel, Assistant Curator of Animal Training, and Tricia Dees, Senior Animal Trainer, share their time and knowledge in regular visits to the facility near Austin. I am honored to have been invited myself and look forward to more visits in the future.
The trainers of Texas Hearing and Service Dogs are simply amazing. Their commitment and passion for what they do is inspirational. They literally change lives on a daily basis. I am humbled to have the opportunity to use what I have learned as a whale trainer at SeaWorld to help enrich the lives of animals and ultimately the lives of other people.
Tricia Dees agrees, “It is such a rewarding experience. Not only are we able to help a non-profit organization, but we get to do something completely different from what we do daily at SeaWorld. It’s fun to watch training sessions regardless of whether the animal is a dog or parrot or whale. They share the belief that we should treat the animals with respect. What they do is inspirational. Sheri was a lawyer who wanted to give back and now helps both people and animals.”
 Stephanie Racier with Excalibur …And this is only the beginning. Sheri and her team are reaching out to more humans and canines alike on a daily basis. They are able to train dogs that assist those who have sacrificed so much to help us by serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Additionally, they train Child Advocacy dogs that serve to calm children in difficult courtroom scenarios. Texas Hearing and Service Dogs has also begun the Honor Dogs program where newly adopted dogs will live with and be trained by inmates – another win-win situation.
This Christmas, I am thankful for the gift Sheri Soltes has given me. She has given me the chance to be part of something that is so much bigger than me.
Want to help? Foster homes are needed for the animals on weekends. www.servicedogs.org
December 2, 2009 by SuzyBehne • 1 Comment »
Posted in News
What if you could take a walk around our parks or plan your vacation without leaving your easy chair? Now you can. The SeaWorld parks are now shown in Street View on Google Maps!
Up-close, 360-degree, see-everything, virtual visits to the SeaWorld parks in San Antonio, Orlando and San Diego –- as well as Discovery Cove, a swim-with-dolphins resort and Aquatica, SeaWorld’s waterpark, both in Orlando –- are now online.
What a great way to check out your favorite parks.
Working with Google’s Street View team, nearly every inch of the parks was mapped using one of Google’s “Trikes.” A state-of-the-art camera automatically gathered photographs from the back of a modified bicycle. Google software then blended the images, creating the famous, interactive and completely movable 360-degree scenes Street View is known for.
 Here is the Google Trike at our sister park gathering images of Shamu Stadium And the best way to make sure every show, splash, adventure and fave world-class thrill ride was mapped? The 250-pound Trike, complete with camera and GPS mounted on a mast, was pedal-powered by a Google staff member. It’s the ultimate mix of technology — both high and low.
Soon, Street View for Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay and Williamsburg, Va., Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa., Adventure Island in Tampa and Water Country USA in Williamsburg, will be available, so be sure to check back often.
Here’s how to get started: Street View visits to the parks are accessible via Web and mobile applications. Go to maps.google.com and search for any of the SeaWorld parks, Discovery Cove or Aquatica. Then drag the orange “Pegman” icon (found at the top left of the map) for a “walking tour.” Among the highlights -– also seen in “satellite mode” — SeaWorld visitors can look for the world’s most famous killer whale, Shamu.
Enjoy!
October 27, 2009 by ChrisJordan • 11 Comments »
Posted in Around the Park, Features, News
This Saturday we say goodbye to one of the longest running, most beloved show’s in our parks’ history. After a magical nine years the curtain will close sounding the knell for “Viva!”
The combination of Pacific white-sided dolphins, beluga whales, divers, synchronized swimmers, aerialists, bungee artists and Russian Swing performers and an amazing soundtrack was revolutionary in its inception. Never before had an audience experienced multi-species of marine mammal life with human performers and acrobats. It brought together powerful visions of the sea and earth together in a tour de force that delighted guests of all ages.
The power, majesty and beauty of the sea unfolds before your eyes in a tableau of wonder and amazement.
The Pacific white-sided dolphins known as the “acrobats of the sea” playfully perform their dazzling behaviors to the delight of all.
The beluga whales, nicknamed the “canaries of the sea” dazzle us with their grace and beauty.
Adding swimmers and trainers, the scene opens up into a glorious ballet sequence.
The aerialists’ actions over the water mirror reflect the action in the water.
The high flying Russian Swing performers take our breath away as they execute some of the most difficult stunts to be seen by an audience.
And who can forget the beloved Chad…
“Viva!” lives and breathes in all of us, touching our lives in ways words cannot express. With no spoken dialogue the story unfolds through music and movement. The music plays at our heart strings as the action in the air and sea resounds deep inside of each of us. From the heart thumping drums to soaring melodies it leaves resounding memories in all who experienced this celebration of life.
So let us not say farewell, but rather fare forward…..and like the Phoenix, “Viva!” will live on in its next incarnation….
What is it you ask?
Ah, that is the mystery….what we search for in all of us…only to be revealed…
October 15, 2009 by SarahSaatzer • 2 Comments »
Posted in Around the Park, News, conservation
SeaWorld San Antonio has made conservation a top priority over the years and we are continuously working on innovative ways to improve the environment. We work hard every year to improve and reduce the park’s overall energy consumption through water and energy conservation, sustainability and recycling.
That is why we were so honored when SeaWorld San Antonio was recently presented with a 2009 “Going Green Award” in the Conservation Program category by the San Antonio Business Journal. The award program recognizes individuals, companies and programs making an effort to save our planet.
Our park’s water and energy conservation and recycling efforts were key factors in winning this award. Our park is known for its water attractions and we have made it a priority to reduce the consumption of water in a variety of ways.
One of the ways we conserve water that contributed to us winning the “Going Green Award” is by collecting water condensation from air conditioning units in two condensation tanks found in back areas of the park. The water collected in these tanks is used to irrigate landscaping throughout the park and is also used to pressure wash pathways. Low-flow toilets have been installed in park restrooms to reduce the amount of waste water used. These are only a few of ways that SeaWorld San Antonio conserves water on a daily basis.
Reclaimed water is used to water the plants and grass at SeaWorld San Antonio.
Recycling is also very important in a park this size! We have placed aluminum and plastic recycling receptacles throughout the park. We also provide a Recycling Center for team members to bring their recyclables from home. This is an easy and convenient way for us to recycle. I love that the center is open 24/7 so I can drop off my recyclables anytime.
SeaWorld San Antonio encourages team members to recycle. At this team member recycling facility on property, team members can bring recyclables from work or home, 24 hours a day.
We have also taken advantage of solar energy by utilizing solar golf carts. Nine golf carts at SeaWorld San Antonio have solar panels installed on them. The panels absorb sun and turn that energy into electricity to power the carts. The solar panels are powered by state-of-the-art photovoltaic cells that produce electricity directly from sunlight.
Panels on solar golf carts at SeaWorld San Antonio turn energy into electricity to power the carts.
We are always looking for new initiatives to promote conservation. If you have any ideas, please let us know!
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