SeaWorld

Viva la Musica at SeaWorld

Enjoy all the fun beginning at noon. Concerts are located at Bayside Stadium and begin at 3:00 pm. In the event of rain, concerts will move to Nautilus Theater.

Celebrate the food, fun, sights and sounds of Latin culture at this annual festival, featuring live concerts by internationally renowned Latin musical artists. All concerts are free with admission.

April 14: Elvis Crespo
April 21: Grupo Niche
April 28: RKM & Ken-Y
May 5: Gilberto Santa Rosa

Enjoy savory Latin cuisine prepared by SeaWorld Orlando’s own Executive Chef, Héctor Colón. Lechón, arroz con gandules y pasteles, arroz con pollo, habichuelas rojas y maduros, mofongo con carne frita, alcapurrias and bacalaítos are just some of the items available during Viva la Música.

SEAWORLD RELEASED REHABILITATED SEA TURTLE

Earlier this morning, SeaWorld Orlando released a rehabilitated, sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle back into the waters of the Canaveral National Seashore in Titusville, Fla.

The sea turtle was found on the beach in Indialantic, Fla. and was brought to SeaWorld Orlando on Dec. 21, 2011, highly emaciated, lethargic and covered in leeches and barnacles. The sea turtle was also suffering from digestive issues, possible pneumonia and small shell wounds.

Upon arrival at SeaWorld, the sea turtle immediately received antibiotics and was closely monitored by the SeaWorld Aquarium Team.

This year, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued 11 sea turtles, and released five. For 45 years, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has helped animals in need — ill, injured and orphaned. More than 20,000 animals have been rescued by our experts.‪ SeaWorld’s animal rescue team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ‪

To help protect this threatened species, make sure fishing line and all trash is disposed of properly. When fishing, use new “circle” hooks – sea turtles are less likely to swallow the circle-shaped hooks than traditional J-shaped, which cause suffocation or internal bleeding when swallowed. Also, if a sea turtle’s nest is seen, please contact authorities.

SEAWORLD RELEASED REHABILITATED SEA TURTLE

Just weeks after SeaWorld veterinarians removed a 4 inch-long fishing hook from its throat, the rehabilitated loggerhead turtle returned home to the waters just south of Cocoa Beach this morning.

The turtle, a sub-adult weighing approximately 100 pounds, was rescued from the intake canal at the St. Lucie Power Plant in St. Lucie County, Fla. The animal arrived at SeaWorld Orlando February 26 and immediately underwent surgery following x-rays and blood work procedures. Vets removed a 4-inch-long fish hook, and after a speedy recovery, the turtle was released back into the wild.

The loggerhead was found by the Inwater Research Group – an organization committed to the research and conservation of coastal species and habitats – who also assisted in the animal’s transport.

According to SeaWorld veterinarians, the fishing hook was one of the largest the team has removed to date. To help protect this threatened species, make sure fishing line and all trash is disposed of properly. When fishing, use new “circle” hooks – turtles are less likely to swallow the circle-shaped hooks than traditional J-shaped, which cause suffocation or internal bleeding when swallowed. Also, if a sea turtle’s nest is seen, please contact authorities.

This year, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued nine sea turtles. For 45 years, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has helped animals in need — ill, injured and orphaned. More than 20,000 animals have been rescued by our experts.‪ SeaWorld’s animal rescue team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Dolphin rescue in southwest Florida

Earlier Friday afternoon, a team of marine animal rescue experts –from SeaWorld Orlando, NOAA Fisheries Services, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Chicago Zoological Society, Mote Marine Lab, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and University of Florida – worked together to free a dolphin that had been tangled in fishing line in the Ten Thousand Islands area, a chain of islands off the coast of southwest Florida between Cape Romano and Marco Island.

The fishing line was surrounding the dolphin’s tail and if left unchecked, could have impacted his ability to survive. Once the dolphin was secured by the rescue team, he was quickly taken to a boat ramp where a mobile x-ray machine checked for additional damage caused by the line, the fishing line was removed cut away, body measurements were taken and the dolphin was tagged with an identification number before he was released to the waters near Marco Island.

Although experts had been monitoring the dolphin for several weeks, weather conditions became favorable late in the week.

The dolphin – named Seymour by dolphin researchers – is estimated to be about 8 years old and is a known resident of the waters near Marco Island. At the end of 2011, members of the Ten Thousand Islands Dolphin Project reported seeing Seymour with the line wrapped around his tail. A team of experts and biologists determined that the line could endanger Seymour, and a plan was put in place to rescue him.

“Discarded fishing line poses a… Continue reading →

Jack Hanna at SeaWorld Orlando

Are you an animal lover? Well, here’s your chance to see world-renowned wildlife expert Jack Hanna at SeaWorld Orlando for Jack Hanna Weekend, accompanied by some of the most amazing animal ambassadors.

This special limited-time series takes place at Nautilus Theater on Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25. Show times will be at 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., and seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis so get there early. Hanna’s past “co-stars” have included clouded leopards, chatty kookaburra birds, and all kinds of majestic eagles. Recognized around the world for his boundless enthusiasm for wildlife and conservation, “Jungle Jack” will help you share in this wondrous connection to wildlife and the world we share.

For our Pass Members, there’s an exclusive Pass Member Breakfast with Jack Hanna, which gives families an up-close opportunity to spend some quality time with Jack and some of his ‘wild’ friends and receive reserved seats to the 1:15 p.m. show.

“Is a liger real? Do bugs have bones? Do anteaters really eat ants?” Learn the answers to all of these questions and more during a breakfast experience full of educational facts and great family fun. Pass Members can enjoy a scrumptious breakfast buffet at the Seafire Inn while Jack Hanna entertains with some of his favorite animals. Existing Pass Members can book their breakfast and for those who aren’t yet Pass Members but would like to learn more, click here.

SeaWorld Orlando’s Bands, Brew & BBQ festival

SeaWorld Orlando’s Bands, Brew & BBQ festival is twice as fun this year when the park hosts rockin’ concerts Saturdays AND Sundays on Feb. 11-12, 18-19, 25-26, and March 3-4. That’s four weekends of smokin’ hot bands, sizzling BBQ from your favorite local restaurants and SeaWorld’s very own culinary team, plus a thirst-quenching beer garden and amazing atmosphere.

Bands, Brew & BBQ is included with park admission.And the best way to experience this festival is with a Fun Card where you pay for a day’s admission and come back all year –
with no blackout dates – to experience all of SeaWorld’s remarkable events.

This year’s awesome line-up features top artists in classic rock and country music including a side stage showcasing local bands. For those who want to show off their line dancing and boot scootin’ skills, a DJ will be spinning music to satisfy movers and shakers of all levels.

Concert times are at 4 p.m. and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Saturday, February 11: Foreigner
Sunday, February 12: Gary Allan
Saturday, February 18: Trace Adkins
Sunday, February 19: Kenny Rogers
Saturday, February 25: Doobie Brothers
Sunday, February 26: Ronnie Dunn
Saturday, March 3: Sara Evans
Sunday, March 4: Scotty McCreery

This year beer lovers will rejoice with our “brew”-licious Beer Sampler. Hoist your mugs in our thirst-quenching beer garden that showcases nearly 50 craft beers from domestic and international breweries.

A haze of sweet-smelling BBQ smoke will fill the… Continue reading →

Family Adventure for Free at Busch Gardens & Seaworld

It’s an awesome time to be a preschooler! Children ages five and younger can now explore the wonders of Africa and the depths of the ocean for FREE with the new Busch Gardens & SeaWorld Preschool Pass. Little ones will experience kid-size thrills at Busch Gardens’ Sesame Street Safari of Fun and SeaWorld’s Shamu’s Happy Harbor play areas, get up close to their favorite furry and feathered friends, and see new shows brought to life.

The pass is valid for all of 2012 at both SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Kids are welcome to experience all there is to do for the preschool set, including seasonal events such as Summer Nights at Busch Gardens, SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular and festive holiday events at both parks. New this year, Busch Gardens will delight guests with its biggest ice show ever, Iceploration, premiering Feb. 2. And SeaWorld is introducing an all-new festival this year, “Just for Kids!” featuring concerts by Lazy Town, Max & Ruby, the Doodlebops and Choo-Choo Soul, along with plenty of family-friendly fun and activities on Saturdays Jan. 14 through Feb. 4.

Parents and older kids can join in on all the excitement with a Fun Card, which invites guests to pay for a day and play all year through Dec. 31, 2012, with no blackout dates.

“Must-see” preschool attractions at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Preschoolers will delight in Sesame Street Safari of Fun, a sunny, funny play land, filled with moments that your family can share… Continue reading →

SeaWorld fights fine over trainers death

By MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press

SeaWorld Orlando’s policy of relying on trainers to recognize when a killer whale poses a safety threat leaves gaps that can lead to injury or death, a government attorney said Monday in support of safety citations issued to the theme park after a trainer’s death.

The theme park is arguing during a Monday hearing the three citations are unfounded. They were issued after trainer Dawn Brancheau was pulled underwater by an orca last year and drowned.

“Whales are large, powerful, said John Black, an attorney for the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

SeaWorld attorney Carla Gunnin told the administrative law judge hearing the case that the resort has a history of rescuing marine animals and is a leader in marine mammal research.

Administrative Law Judge Ken Welsch said his role was not to determine if whales should be held in captivity or if the theme park resort is responsible for the accident, but to decide the merit of the three OSHA citations given to SeaWorld.

Brancheau died Feb. 24, 2010, when a killer whale named Tilikum grabbed her hair and violently dragged her underwater. The medical examiner said she drowned and suffered traumatic injuries.

Brancheau’s husband was attending the hearing and was accompanied by attorneys representing the Brancheau family if OSHA chooses to show videos and photos taken during the trainer’s death. Family members have argued showing them would be a violation of privacy. A federal judge last week ruled that OSHA may use… Continue reading →

SUMMER NIGHTS AT SEAWORLD ENDS AUGUST 14

Even though summer’s nearly over and kids will soon be back in school, there’s still time to experience Summer Nights at SeaWorld.

SeaWorld’s summer nighttime adventures continue through Sunday, August 14. The park is open until 10 p.m. giving guests even more time to experience SeaWorld’s fantastic shows, thrilling coasters under the stars, and a nightly fireworks and fountain finale.

Visit SeaWorldOrlando.com for more.

Guests can choose from two great ticket offers:

Adults pay the kid’s price and get a second day free, a perfect option for families looking for an all-day adventure.
The Summer Nights After-3 p.m. ticket for only $49.99 brings more flexibility, fun and value to Orlando’s best nighttime theme park entertainment.

For Summer Nights insider tips and cool giveaways “like” SeaWorld’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/SeaWorld.

SeaWorld Orlando Releases Three Green Sea Turtles Back into Their Native Waters

Today three green sea turtles were released back into waters of Florida’s east coast. All three turtles were rehabilitated by SeaWorld Orlando’s animal rescue team.

The first turtle to be released –a quite large, 20-inch turtle– was brought to SeaWorld’s rehabilitation facility in January of this year with pneumonia. Considered a sub-adult, this female green sea turtle was given around-the-clock care by the Park’s turtle specialists. She was released today in Eddy Creek, and the aquarium team has confidence she will do just fine back in the wild.

A turtle that was recently brought to SeaWorld for a shell infection and barnacles also was released today. Barnacles can cause stress and disable the flippers of the turtle. After carefully removing the barnacles, the aquarium team nursed the young turtle’s shell back to health. Turtle specialists are optimistic about the turtles release back into Cape Canaveral.

The day of turtle releases ended with the third green sea turtle which was rescued in December of 2010 for fishing line ingestion, which is a common injury for sea turtles. SeaWorld’s care team aided this turtle back to health by removing the line and monitoring the turtle’s weight until it reached a healthy benchmark. The fastest of the three turtles took off into the waves, which aquarists say is a good sign.

“Today’s release went well, and we’re happy that the turtle’s are fully recovered and are safely back into their natural habitats,” said Dan Conklin, SeaWorld Orlando’s Supervisor of Aquarium.

Since the sea… Continue reading →