Posts Tagged ‘animals’
July 7, 2010 by KellyMorales • 4 Comments »
Posted in animals
 Celebrate sharks at SeaWorld during the month of July When I first started working at SeaWorld, I’m not going to lie; I was excited about being around all of the “cute” animals. Dolphins! Penguins! Sea lions! Shamu! I mean, who could blame me? I was eager to learn more about them, and I knew my guests would be eager to hear all I had to say while around their habitats. Win-win!
Then there were the sharks. I mean, I always thought they were cool, but they didn’t tug at my heart like some of the other animals. I’m sure I had the same pre-conceived ideas that most guests have when they think about sharks. Stop for a minute, and think about what comes to mind when you hear the word “Shark”. Scary? Menacing? Mysterious? Danger? It’s easy to think those things, given what we are usually told about them on television and movies.
The truth is, once I got to know more about sharks, different words started coming to my mind. Awesome. Important. Beautiful. And, unfortunately, Misunderstood. There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding sharks, but there are also so many amazing facts about them that it’s hard not to like sharks a whole lot more once you get to know them too. Here are a few of my favorites:
Most people immediately think of teeth when they think about sharks. While looking at their rows of teeth may be impressive, there is so much more to the story. Each species of shark has a different shaped tooth depending on their diet. Their teeth can be broad and serrated like a knife for seizing and cutting, or long and sharp like fork tines for catching smaller prey. Because of their biting force, they often lose teeth while feeding. Some species of sharks can lose and replace up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime!
Because they are the “scavengers of the sea”, a shark’s senses are well adapted for honing in on prey that is weak, sick, or injured. They have an incredible sense of hearing, and a keen sense of smell, and their eyes are especially adapted for seeing in low light. They have pits on the underside of their snouts called Ampullae of Lorenzini. These sensory pits help the shark sense electrical currents from other animals, and allow them to know exactly when to bite down. They also have a lateral line, which is an adaptation to help them sense vibrations in the water.
 Sharks are important to ocean ecosystems because they keep populations healthy by feeding on weaker animals. This leaves the stronger ones to survive and produce stronger young. Sharks eat far less than most people imagine. Cold-blooded animals have a much lower metabolism than warm-blooded animals. In fact, in a zoological environment like SeaWorld, a shark eats about 1-10% of its total body weight each week. Studies done on wild sharks show that they have similar food intakes.
Over the years, people have used sharks for food, medicines, and vitamins; shark teeth for weapons and jewelry; and shark skin for sandpaper. But today some shark populations are on the brink of extinction. Shark meat is a popular food (with many sharks being caught only for human consumption of their fins). And thousands of sharks are caught by accident, snagged in nets set out to catch other kinds of fish.
Today, I can honestly say that sharks are probably my most favorite animals to talk about. This is why I am very excited that during the month of July, SeaWorld San Antonio will be celebrating sharks! This celebration will include shark talks and activities at our Sharks/Coral Reef exhibit, and each morning, we will be screening our “Saving a Species-The Shark Story” in Sea Star Theater. This 2-D movie delves into the mysteries of these fascinating creatures. You will learn about the variety of shark species, their amazing adaptations, and find out what is being done to protect and preserve sharks worldwide.
Learn more about sharks with our online Sharks Animal Info Book.
Are you a teacher looking for ways to bring sharks to your students? Check out our Shark Teacher Guide.
Want to get even closer? Touch a shark and hand feed their closest relatives, the stingrays, on our Behind the Scenes Tour and our Stingrays Up Close Tour.
We are very thrilled to be able to share these stories with you, and we hope to see you this month!
June 21, 2010 by KellyMorales • 1 Comment »
Posted in Adventure Camp, animals, conservation
 Nurra the Bennett's Wallaby This week, we would like to introduce you to Nurra, our Bennett’s wallaby.
Nurra was named in honor of our Adventure Camp program, as her name means “camp” in Aborigine. If you have ever wondered how we decide on the names of our animal ambassadors, they often refer to something about that animal. It could be something we observed here at the park, or something that pertains to their adaptations or habitats in the natural environment. Their name is usually in the native language of the area they are naturally found. Our resident camp counselors help Nurra’s keepers by assisting with cleaning her habitat and preparing her food. Their camp experience also allows them a chance to hold her and have their pictures taken with her.
Wallabies, like their larger kangaroo relatives, are indigenous to Australia and Tasmania. They use their long tails for balance, and strong legs for jumping. They are nocturnal herbivores, spending a lot of time browsing for grass and plants. They use their sharp front teeth for cutting grasses, and their large, flat molars for grinding their food.
Wallabies usually live alone, except for females and their offspring. They are a marsupial, which means that after the baby, or joey, is born, it continues to develop inside the mother’s pouch for up to an additional eight months.
Wallaby mothers have the ability to conceive while they are still caring for a joey in their pouch, but the embryo will not start to develop until the older joey has left the pouch.
The mother wallaby is able to produce two different kids of milk, a higher fat and energy rich milk for her older joey, and a less energy rich milk for the newborn still in her pouch. Joeys will usually separate from their mothers after about one year.
Not only does SeaWorld take care of Nurra, we also care for her distant relatives. In 2009, Victoria, Australia experienced an unusually strong drought coupled with a severe heat wave. This precipitated major brushfires, devastating southern Australia, its communities, and natural spaces.
The SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund awarded emergency grants to places like the Minton Farm Animal Rescue Center, to purchase food, bedding, and medical supplies for the distressed animals, including wallabies, in their care.
You can visit Nurra at the Animal Connections Reservation Center at the front of the park as she visits with guests throughout the day. She also makes regular appearances with our day and resident campers, and tour guests. Stop by and say hello!
 Nurra meets a SeaWorld Camper
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!
June 8, 2010 by KellyMorales • 2 Comments »
Posted in Animal Ambassador, animals, conservation
 Padre the Roseate Spoonbill During your next visit to SeaWorld San Antonio, you may notice some new faces at the front of the park. The former Clydesdale Hamlet is now the Animal Connections: Reservation Center. This is a great place to start your day. Here you can visit the Concierge Team for information about tours, interaction programs, camps, and other animal connections. They can assist you with pass upgrades, cabanas, and dining programs. Or, if you’re new to the park and you just need some advice on how to navigate around and maximize your visit, they can help you plan your day.
This is also a great place to see a few of our Animal Ambassadors who also happen to be native Texans. Each of the animals you will meet here, (right now you can visit with a Roseate spoonbill, American alligators, and brown pelicans), are considered successes stories. This is because the populations of all three of these species were once critically threatened, but because of conservation efforts and responsible wildlife management, they have come “back from the brink” and their numbers are once again stable.
This week, I would like to introduce you to one of these animals, Padre the Roseate spoonbill. Padre hatched here at SeaWorld San Antonio on July 16, 2005, but if you have travelled to the Texas Gulf Coast, you may have seen spoonbills like Padre in the marshy and grassy areas near the water. They are also found in other coastal areas in the southern United States, the West Indies, Central America, and South America.
Spoonbills are one of 14 species of long legged wading birds. Much like flamingos, their feathers are pink as a result of the food that they eat. Like many other bird species with beautiful plumage, Roseate spoonbills were hunted almost to extinction during the 1800s. Their striking pink feathers were popular on women’s hats, and hunters from all over the United States competed for spoonbill plumes. In the early 1900s, roseate spoonbills began to re-colonize areas along the Gulf Coast and slowly increase in number.
Their bill is long and flat, a special adaptation for tactile feeding. They swish their spoon-shaped bills back and forth in the water to find small invertebrates, fish, and crustaceans.
 Padre swishes his bill back and forth to collect food from the water. Spoonbills also make good parents. During breeding season, the male gives the female gifts of nesting material to attract them. Once mated, the pair remains monogamous. Both male and female take turns sitting on the eggs and feeding the young.
You can see Padre here at SeaWorld, but as an Animal Ambassador he also has made several appearances on television shows, schools, and children’s hospitals. Throughout the day, he will assist with conservation talks and guest meet and greets in the park. This summer the SeaWorld Adventure Campers will assist with training Padre to fly to guests so that they will have an opportunity to get an even closer look at this amazing, although unusual, bird. Don’t forget to come out and say hello to Padre the next time you’re in the park!
May 17, 2010 by NickIreland • 1 Comment »
Posted in Around the Park, animals
Our newest aquarium exhibit, at Sharks/The Coral Reef has recently been opened with some amazing creatures that inhabit sea grass environments. The aquarium features several unique species of fish and invertebrates.
Sea grass communities are home to small, delicate species and often serve as a haven for juvenile fish before they make the journey into the open sea. The sea grass itself can also be food to many larger species of marine animals.
 Banggai Cardinalfish inhabit sea grass beds in Indonesia. Our sea grass exhibit features Banggai Cardinalfish, Pterapogon kauderni, a beautiful black and white species that can only be found in a remote part of Indonesia. You’ll see them hovering still in the water column in a small school. Also, don’t miss the Shrimpfish, Aeoliscus strigatus. You may need to look hard for these, they don’t much look like a fish at all at first glance. Shrimpfish avoid predators by camouflaging themselves around the tall sea grass. They actually swim in a vertical position with the head down.
 Even though it doesn't look the part, this is a fish. Don’t miss some of the fascinating invertebrates (animals without a backbone) featured in the exhibit, such as shrimp, sea cucumbers, and hermit crabs. One of the really cool shrimp is the Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis, which gets the skunk portion of its name from the white stripe on its back. They are called cleaner shrimp because of the service they provide to other animals.
Cleaner shrimp can occupy many different habitats and fish will recognize that they are not food and allow the shrimp to pick parasites and dead skin off the fish. The fish will even let the shrimp clean the fish’s mouth out. This not only helps the fish remain clean and healthy, but also provides the shrimp with a snack. You may even be lucky enough to see this behavior in our exhibit.
 Like a fish car wash, the Skunk Cleaner Shrimp runs a "cleaning station". So, next time you stop by the aquarium at SeaWorld San Antonio, don’t miss out on the fascinating creatures that call the sea grass beds home.
May 5, 2010 by KellyMorales • 1 Comment »
Posted in Animal Ambassador, Meet My Friend..., Uncategorized, animals, conservation
 Meet Chloe the barred owl at the Animal Connections Center This week we would like to introduce you to Chloe the barred owl. Chloe came to us from our sister park, Discovery Cove.
Chloe was originally found in a school yard eating from students during lunch. She would land on edge of the tables and wait for food. Because of this behavior, the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Orlando felt she was probably a pet that had escaped or been released and they collected her.
It was believed that Chloe had imprinted on humans. Soon after many animals are born, they imprint on their caretakers. Imprinting is a critical behavior that establishes a bond between young animals and their parents. If an animal, such as an owl chick, is cared for and raised by humans at a very young age, it will no longer recognize itself as an owl, and will continue to seek socialization from humans. A bird of prey with this behavior is considered non-releasable because their feeding behaviors are not safe in their natural environment. As a result, Chloe found a home at Discovery Cove.
Barred Owls like Chloe are medium-sized, gray-brown, and they are streaked with white side-to-side barring on the chest and up-and-down barring on the belly. Their eyes are brown, and the beak is yellow and almost covered by feathers. They have a long tail, and there are no differences in coloration between males and females.
Owls are nocturnal hunters, and prey mostly on small rodents. Most owls have unique, comb-like feathers that allow for silent flight. The leading edge is “fringed” so that the feathers, when moving, do not make noise when rubbing together. It is rare for the prey to hear an owl swooping in.
Owls have excellent vision. Their eyes look forward in a fixed position and cannot move from side to side, as the human eye can. In order to see peripherally, the owl must turn its entire head. It is a myth that owls can turn their head all the way around. Owls have 14 neck vertebrae, allowing them to move their head 270 degrees.
Although these birds have excellent eyesight, they are also capable of catching prey using only their sense of hearing. Owl ears are located one higher than the other, increasing sound reception. During flight, the left ear captures sounds below while the right ear focuses on sounds from above. In addition, their face feathers create a disc, which works to trap and focus sound.
 Chloe's face feathers create a disc that trap and focus sound As predators, owls play an important role in the environment by controlling small animal populations. Because mammals are a primary prey item, this can be especially beneficial to humans, reducing the amount of food lost each year to rodents.
If you would like to visit with Chloe, or maybe even take a photo with her, you can meet her at the Animal Connections Conservation Center along with our other Animal Ambassadors. For information about other birds of prey species, visit this link on our ANIMALS website.
April 28, 2010 by KellyMorales • Comments Off
Posted in animals, conservation
 Flamingos in their temporary home at Zoological Support If you visit the park during the next few weeks, you might notice some usual residents aren’t where you expect them to be.
Last week, a team of over 35 people undertook the task of moving about 30 flamingos and dozens of water fowl back to our zoological support area.
Clearing the exhibit will allow lots of improvements to be made, including installing a brand new filtration unit, which will make the job of caring for so many birds a lot easier for the Aviculture Department. By freeing up hours that were previously spent hosing down and scrubbing the exhibit, the bird staff will now have more time for bird enrichment, husbandry, and conservation projects. This will also conserve thousands of gallons of water every year by keeping the pond areas on a closed recycling system so that we can reuse the same water again and again. While the exhibit is under construction, it is also an opportunity to landscape the habitat in a way that encourages more natural nesting and breeding behaviors. We are now able to introduce taller plants for the flamingos, and bushes that are low to the ground for the ducks and other water fowl.
 A female red-crested poacher receives a check-up by a veterinarian Transporting so many birds takes a whole lot of teamwork. The Water Quality Department assisted by ensuring the water levels were just right for the birds to be moved safely. Team members from Aviculture, Aquarium, and Animal Care worked together with help from folks in Human Resources and Education to carefully gather the birds for the transport. As each bird was collected, their identification bands were checked and replaced as necessary, photos were taken for their health records, and they were given a quick check-up from one of our veterinarians. While the work is done on their habitat, the flamingos will be staying in a special aviary in zoological support.
Working with animals like flamingos can be a lot of hard work, but it can also be very rewarding. Have you ever wondered about zoological careers at SeaWorld? Visit our careers resources website to find out about pursuing opportunities in marine animal science, and hear stories from our experts in the field. You can also check out our Careers Camp program, which gives young people an opportunity to work side-by-side with animal professionals and allows them to see first hand what a zoological career is all about.
April 23, 2010 by KellyMorales • Comments Off
Posted in Events, animals, conservation
 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.
Take a peek at the lives of penguins at SeaWorld.
Witness SeaWorld’s support in the incredible effort to rescue penguins devastated by an oil spill in South Africa.
Send your friends and family a (super cute!) penguin e-card from our Conservation Fund website to wish them a happy World Penguin Day!
Learn just about everything there is to know about penguins and impress your friends with your new penguin IQ.
This new event is sure to delight penguin lovers of all ages. It promises to be black and white and fun all over!
April 14, 2010 by KellyMorales • Comments Off
Posted in Animal Ambassador, conservation
 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!
April 7, 2010 by TriciaDees • 2 Comments »
Posted in Shows, animals
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!
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