Orlando: Sea World

As mentioned in our previous blog on Discovery Cove, SeaWorld has been a dirty word amongst some animal lovers in the USA. Suggestions that large intelligent mammals shouldn't be cooped up in tanks performing for humans were only reinforced by the tragic killing of an Orca trainer at the park in 2010 plus several other less publicised incidents over the years.

While Orca and Dolphin shows go on, SeaWorld is working to change the narrative, both through emphasising it's role in animal rescue and rehabilitation and through it's move in recent years to put more marketing emphasis into both animal displays and rides (though the animal shows are still highly promoted and a big drawcard).

Daddy and Samuel upside down again!

Putting the moral questions aside, we certainly enjoyed our time at SeaWorld, again like Busch Gardens, it's a park which has a bit of everything.

Wet

Wetter

Over our time in Florida, Samuel has become a rollercoaster addict and SeaWorld certainly was able to satisfy his thirst for adventure. Eric and Samuel had multiple rides on Manta (a flying coaster), Kraken and Mako.

Strapped into Superman position, Manta is a rather novel experience

The animal exhibits were generally well done. In particular we enjoyed watching the penguins who lived inside a giant refrigerator (complete with snow making). The sharks swam above us in a huge glass tank with a travellator in a Perspex tunnel underneath which made for unique viewing. The manatees were interesting, we watched them munch through a box of lettuces using their flippers as pseudo hands to help feed.

After the Galapagos it was strange to see the Sealions inside an enclosure

Manatees eating lettuce (claytons seagrass)

Friendly dolphin

So finally to the shows. Regardless of ethics, they certainly were spectacular with the trainers dressing in Wiggles style jumpsuits and bopping along to a relentlessly uplifting soundtrack as they put the dolphins and orcas through their paces. We also saw a show with domestic animals (cats, dogs, mice, pigs, birds etc) performing tricks which was extremely funny.

Orcas can shift a lot of water with their tails

A lot of fun was had by all.

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