Featured Image Credit: Awesome Ocean
For this Thanksgiving week, we’re highlighting some of the amazing institutions that are making our world a better place and sharing why we’re thankful for them.
SeaWorld operates three of the world’s premier and largest zoological facilities in Florida, Texas and California. Every year millions of people visit SeaWorld parks, but we want to share 10 reasons why you should be grateful for these world-class zoological facilities.
Here Are The 10 Reasons Why You Should Be Grateful For SeaWorld:
10. The rescue, rehabilitation and release of JJ, the Grey Whale – In 1997, SeaWorld San Diego was asked to rescue a grey whale calf that was near death. Their killer whale facility was the only facility on the West Coast with pools large enough to accommodate a grey whale calf. After 15 months of rehabilitation, JJ was deemed releasable by the federal government. JJ was then returned to the Pacific Ocean.
9. Ava, Ace and Piper, the pilot whales given a forever home – In 2012, more than 20 pilot whales became stranded along Florida’s coast. As a result of that tragic event, only three whales survived. After they were deemed unreleasable by the federal government, SeaWorld Orlando was asked to give these animals a forever home. These whales were given a second chance at life and now inspire millions of visitors a year to protect our oceans.
8. SeaWorld’s Happy Tails – For years, SeaWorld’s parks have been finding homes for adoptable pets by offering two complimentary tickets to people who adopt a cat or dog in need from a participating animal shelter. Since launching the Happy Tails program, SeaWorld has helped over 30,000 cats and dogs find forever homes.
7. Rising Tide Conservation – With climate change, pollution and over-fishing threatening coral reefs around the world, SeaWorld’s Rising Tide Conservation group is working to protect reefs. They’re developing techniques for rearing marine ornamental fish and promoting commercial production to provide alternatives to reef collection.
6. Chhouk the Elephant – This young Asian elephant was found starving and orphaned in the wilderness of Cambodia with his foot caught in a trap. It seemed like Chhouk was most certainly going to die. After heroic rehabilitation work by the Wildlife Alliance in Cambodia, SeaWorld was asked to help fashion a prosthetic limb for Chhouk and to help teach him how to use the leg using positive reinforcement training. After lots of work, Chhouk is thriving in the Royal Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia.
5. SeaWorld-Busch Gardens Conservation Fund – Every year over $1,000,000 is donated to conservation projects around the world by the SWBG Conservation Fund. With projects all over the globe, the SWBG Conservation Fund gives everyone who visits SeaWorld’s parks an opportunity to make a global impact because 100% of all money donated to the fund goes directly to conservation projects.
4. Baby Shamu – The first killer whale successfully born in human care was in 1985 at SeaWorld Orlando. This groundbreaking birth gave scientists data on killer whales they were not able to gain in the wild. Scientists learned about the gestation, nursing and growth rates from Baby Shamu and have been able to apply this information to wild whale populations. Over the years, Baby Shamus have inspired millions of people to love and protect marine animals.
3. Mitik, the Walrus – Found as a pup orphaned near Barrows, Alaska, Mitik was rescued, rehabilitated and deemed non releasable by the federal government. Mitik was given a forever home at the New York Aquarium. Sadly in 2012, after being struck by Hurricane Sandy, Matik needed a new home. SeaWorld San Antonio welcomed Mitik with open arms where he has become a beloved member of their pinniped family.
2. 27,000 animals given a second chance at life – Over the past 50 years, all three SeaWorld parks have helped rescue over 27,000 animals. Each and everyone of those 27,000 has been an animal that was sick, injured, starving, and in need of a second chance at life. Whether big, like JJ the grey whale, or small, like a starving sea lion pup, SeaWorld’s dedicated team is there to answer the call and help save that animal’s life. Their goal is rehabilitating and releasing the animals back to their natural habitat. This is only possible because of the people who visit SeaWorld’s parks.
1. Hardworking men and women dedicated to marine animals – The men and women who have dedicated their lives to the care of animals are what makes SeaWorld so incredible.
A visit to SeaWorld is more than just a fun day with your family, it’s an opportunity to make a global impact for conservation.
This Thanksgiving, we give thanks for the people who are working tirelessly to protect and save our awesome oceans.