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.
This year we have a special treat to get you in the sprit for our 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza. Straight from the roots and traditions of South Texas, SeaWorld San Antonio is proud to present the Palacio Brothers on July 3 and 4 at Ski Stadium as part of our pre-Firework entertainment.
This musical family trio features Delio Adrian Palacio on accordion and bass guitar,
Brian Esteban Palacio on lead guitar,
and the youngest, Marcel Nicolas Palacio, on drums.
This high-energy, eclectic band will appeal to audiences of all ages. When asked to describe their music, Delio responded,“we are a high energy, Latin rock, and blues, funk, jam band of three brothers topped off with soul.”
Come enjoy the fantastic moves, hard-driving music and exquisite melodies and harmonies of the Palacio Brothers this Saturday and Sunday – only at SeaWorld San Antonio!
Ever wonder how SeaWorld continually pulls off some of the most impressive fireworks displays in the area? We don’t just go to the local fireworks store and fill up the truck with whatever flies in the air and goes bang. Many months of planning go into one fireworks presentation.
First we start in the studio; yes SeaWorld San Antonio has its own recording and editing studio, where our creative team of producers and audio designers choose music that fits the theme. Next, we cut the music to create one seamless track that leads into the other. Then we send the track to our fireworks designers who listen to the music and create an entire visual representation of the fireworks display on a computer simulator.
Once all the creative is complete, we move on to making “The Magic” happen.
Safety is our first priority.
We create a fire watch team. Working with the local Fire Marshal we map out the placement of nine team members trained to watch for any fallout or debris that may get into a guest area. All of these members of the fire watch team are equipped with a radio on a secure channel and a fire extinguisher.
The island in the middle of Ski Lake is cut short of any excess grass that may cause a fire, and then watered down with a sprinkler system to ensure nothing catches fire.
In the past we have always started our Fireworks Spectacular at 9:15 p.m. We learned from data acquired data from our in-park Weather Bug that wind gusts in the park are greater between 8:45 p.m. and 9:20 p.m. following the setting sun. Which means our best time to shoot would be after 9:30 p.m.
Because of this date, we decided to finish the day by closing the park with our Independence Day Fireworks, starting at 9:45 p.m. This guarantees that the sun has set completely and we are being as safe as possible for the sake of both our guests and our animals.
In addition to the fireworks we will have continuous entertainment starting at 7:30 p.m., including our ski show “Cool Vibrations.” So, if you happen to see me running around Ski Stadium, I will be there organizing everything.
Say hi, but don’t leave too early because the fun doesn’t start till the sun goes down.
SeaWorld San Antonio was nominated for the Air Quality Stewardship Award through the Alamo Area Council of Governments. Honored by the nomination, we submitted our application for this prestigious distinction. Recently, we learned that SeaWorld was selected as an award recipient! Often times some of our conservation initiatives go unnoticed, but behind the scenes we are always looking for ways to be greener. Knowing that our decisions directly affect the environment we all live in makes our green decisions easy to make.
One of our green initiatives is fleet management. We have several pieces of equipment or vehicles that use alternative fuels. We use different types of electrical powered equipment such as forklifts, pallet jacks and segways. We also have vehicles that are powered with propane. We have several golf carts that are solar powered along with some pieces of equipment that are charged with solar panels.
Solar powered golf cart
And, we cannot forget the use of bicycles that our Security team often uses to get from place to place. For those pieces of equipment and vehicles that use diesel or gasoline, we have fueling practices that do not allow our team to refuel during the hottest parts of the day.
Many of our green initiatives allow our team members to play an active role. SeaWorld has a Team Member Recycling Center where team members can bring their clean and segregated recyclables from home. In the first year of our Team Member Recycling Center, we recycled over 10,000 pounds of recyclables!
Team Member Recycling Center
Team members who work in an office environment at the park have more efficient lighting than they had a few years ago. Some team members have even elected to work with less light fixtures in their offices. Less lighting saves on electrical consumption and also on the air conditioning demand in their area. Some team members are part of our SWEAT group – SeaWorld Environmental Action Team. SWEAT participates in different clean up activities as well as developing conservation initiatives that the park will undertake. The newest conservation initiative has the team going through the park and performing energy conservation audits by looking for ways to conserve energy throughout our facility.
Here are some community initiatives that you may not be aware of:
Participation in CPS Energy‘s Load Curtailment Program
SeaWorld San Antonio is extremely honored to be awarded by the Alamo Area Council of Governments with an Air Quality Stewardship Award.
Air Quality Stewardship Award - 2010
We definitely have our work cut out for us to continue to reduce our impact on the environment. Through the support of our team members, we will continue to make SeaWorld an even greener place to work and visit.
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.
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!
Our Suspicions were right. Pass members do like EXCLUSIVE water park time.
On June 9th, we started allowing annual pass members only into the Lost Lagoon an hour earlier than everyone else. So far we have had about 700 pass members take advantage of this cool event. You will see from the photos that it is a pleasant experience and there is still plenty of room for more of our loyal members.
This year, Lost Lagoon opens at noon on weekdays, so that means pass members are coming in at 11 am, claiming their spot and getting a locker if needed and oh yeah splashing in the wave pool, lazy river and breaking loose on our water slides.
Since this is only available for the month of June, there are just two Wednesday’s left. And yes if you become an annual pass member in the very near future, you will be able to take advantage of this too.
To avoid the crowd, get here early! SeaWorld’s parking lot opens at 8:00 a.m. daily. Even though the park isn’t scheduled to open until 10:00 a.m., the Entrance Plaza will be open at 9:00 a.m. At this time, you will be able to enjoy several park areas, including Sharks/The Coral Reef exhibit and Dolphin Cove. Get in early and feed the dolphins before the heat of the day! You may also want to consider carpooling or utilizing alternate transportation, such as the VIA busses.
The 4th of July Celebration will take place both July 3rd and 4th, featuring musical performances, your favorite SeaWorld characters, and, of course, a spectacular fireworks display. Entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m. in Ski Stadium. The fireworks display will begin at 9:45 p.m. and end at 10:00 p.m., when the park closes. Both days will be extremely busy, so you might consider reserving your seats at Ski Stadium for the Celebration. Reserved seating is $25.00 ($20.00 for Pass members), and includes reserved seating, popcorn, a bottle of water, and a glow-in-the-dark sword.
Make your 4th of July Celebration extra special with the VIP experience at the Fireworks Extravaganza Picnic. This fabulous buffet is set in Penguin Picnic Plaza, located directly on the lake front. After having a scrumptious meal, you’ll enjoy the fireworks display from the best seats in the house. Each picnic reservation includes a complimentary blanket to use on the plaza during the show. The Fireworks Extravaganza Picnic is $44.99 for adults and $39.99 for children.
Don’t forget to make time for the Summer Nights shows: the best shows of the season! This is one celebration you won’t want to miss. We hope to see you at the park!
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!
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!
Last Friday SeaWorld San Antonio launched an interactive, online game that is designed to put our biggest fans on San Antonio billboards.
Have you been the park lately and taken photos of your family? Then you can play the game now! Upload your photos on seaworldfansearch.com, then click the “Share” button with friends and family so they can vote. Pictures with the most votes will be turned into billboards around the city.
And we’ve made uploading your photos easy. You can submit the old-fashioned way by visiting the site and browsing your computer’s hard drive for images. Or, you can connect the game to your Facebook account use photos that you’ve already uploaded to your account.
The game is free to play and you can submit as many photos as you like. And if you haven’t visited SeaWorld San Antonio lately, be sure to bring your camera so you’ll have a chance to play along.
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.
Last Friday 
