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Visitors to SeaWorld’s US parks are being offered a new perspective on animal care, with a brand-new education programme taking them behind the scenes of its animal operations
Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 21 Jan 2022
Visitors will learn how SeaWorld’s mammal population is cared for Credit: SeaWorld
SeaWorld has introduced a new education programme that takes its visitors behind the scenes of its parks in the US to learn more about marine animal care.
An annual experience, the programme, called Inside Look, is running on select weekends throughout this month at SeaWorld’s Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego parks.
Visitors have been given access to people and places not usually available to the general public - including a wide range of specialists, such as veterinarians, nutritionists and scientists - who explain the role they play in caring for SeaWorld’s animal populations.
“At SeaWorld, we’re passionate about what we do behind the scenes as what guests see when they come to the park,” said SeaWorld CEO, Marc Swanson.
“Inside Look is our opportunity to show guests what goes into delivering exceptional care to our animals and how what we learn from them here can help protect and preserve their species in the wild. This experience will also show guests our heart – and we hope it inspires others to act for the protection of the world’s animals and their environments.”
Each park is offering a combination of the following experiences:
Inside Marine Mammal Care - Visitors will learn what goes into the care of cetaceans, sea lions and whales, from feeding time to poolside encounters led by animal-care specialists. Visitors develop a better understanding of the role that learned animal behaviours play in wellness checks and how the team apply these behaviours to perform vital health examinations.
Inside SeaWorld Rescue Center – Guests visit the home base of the SeaWorld Rescue Team, where they hear from dedicated filtration experts, animal care personnel, lab technicians and veterinarians who provide life-saving care to animals in need. Visitors are also told about SeaWorld’s five-acre Rescue Center in Orlando, Florida, which has the capacity to care for up to 40 manatees at one time.
Inside Aquarium Experience – This inside look shows visitors how animal care experts maintain animal habitats to closely mirror their wild environments, as well as what goes into making sure the animals stay healthy. Additionally, guests will be able to look at the aquariums from both above and beneath the tanks.
Inside Veterinary Science – Guests are given a firsthand look at SeaWorld’s animal care labs and surgical suites, where dedicated teams of veterinarians care for the parks’ animal population, as well as provide rehabilitation for rescued animals. At SeaWorld Orlando, guests will see a critical care facility, one of only five in the US, which provides urgent care for injured, sick and orphaned animals, including manatees. Guests can also watch doctors and specialists in action as they care for the animals.
Inside Animal Feeding – Offering insight into how SeaWorld’s animals are fed everyday, visitors are taught everything from how nutritionists develop diets mimicking those that the animals would eat in the wild to how care providers calculate the volume of food each animal needs.
Inside Wild Arctic – An educational experience about the beluga whales and harbor seals that live in the Wild Arctic, with guests getting the chance to meet the team members who care for these animals.
Inside Animal Encounters – Guests meet several non-marine animals including sloths, eagles, owls, reptiles and birds and can speak with their carers to learn about their daily care and feeding habits.
SeaWorld has earned the Humane Certified seal from American Humane - the world's largest certifier of animal welfare - for its work with animals, with the operator also accredited by third party organisations including the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA).
“As the oldest and largest certifier of humane treatment of animals, we are thrilled that SeaWorld is bringing guests behind the scenes for an ‘Inside Look’ at their world-class operations and how their animals are cared for and protected,” said Dr Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane.
“Educating the public about the need for conservation, in which SeaWorld are pioneers, is the first in many steps to preventing species extinction.”
The Inside Look experience is included in the park’s admission price.
Guests will be able to view SeaWorld’s aquariums for above and below the tanks CREDIT: SEAWORLD
Visitors will be able to learn how the animal’s learned behaviours are used to perform health checks CREDIT: SEAWORLD
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