SeaWorld Animals
Fascinating Wildlife Exhibits

SeaWorld Animals: Wild Arctic

SeaWorld animals are what makes SeaWorld theme park one of the most popular in Orlando. All ages will delight in discovering the marine life on display here. Wild Arctic is adjacent to the Wild Arctic simulator ride. The setting for this exhibit is a polar research station. Once inside you immediately feel a chill in the air. Away from the Florida heat outside, you feel like you could be in the Arctic (OK don't worry, It's not really that cold!)

Inside is home to two polar bears named Klondike and Snow. They have a large area to roam around in and you can even see them underwater. There's also some beluga whales to observe both at the surface level and underwater. They are very active and repeatedly swim up for a air and dive back down again.



Then there are two large walruses. The best way to see them is through the underwater tank. They too are very active, they swim around constantly in a sort of 'loop' that there is within the tank. They swim up, go across, dive down and around and around they go. At many times they come really close to the glass, which is pretty amazing. Just think, you will probably never get to see marine mammals of this size up close anywhere else!

SeaWorld Animals: Penguin Encounter

This is another indoor exhibit at SeaWorld Florida, it is a recreation of Antarctica called Penguin Encounter. It showcases six different species of penguins including Emperor, King, Chinstrap, Rockhopper and Gentoo. There are also puffins and a few other sea birds. You can bet they feel right at home here in the chilly -1 degree enclosure complete with snow covered rocks and icy waters to swim in. It snows here everyday!

When you enter Penguin Encounter you can either view the whole exhibit by standing on the sliding walkway or you can walk along by yourself at the front in order to get a closer look.

SeaWorld Animals: Shark Encounter

For a SeaWorld animal encounter of a more deadly kind check out the 124ft long tunnel full of sharks, moray eels, barracuda and an array of tropical fish and corals. Stand on the moving conveyor belt and watch some of the most poisonous, dangerous and aggressive sea creatures on earth. Shark species in here include nurse sharks, bull sharks, lemon sharks and sawtooth sharks. It's great to be able to see them just a few inches away!



There's also an area with separate tanks on display, in one of them are lion fish. Despite their delicate and pretty appearance, these are highly toxic sea creatures. Each appendige is equipped with poison filled spears, ready to launch a painfull attack on its victim.

The tank is built from acrylic pannels, each are a foot thick and weigh 5,000lbs. They withstand the water pressure of 500 tons, keeping you and the sharks at a safe distance!

Shark Encounter is also visible from within the upscale Sharks Underwater Grill restaurant. If you choose to have lunch here you'll feel like you're immersed in a watery world, with sharks swimming by behind floor-to-ceiling windows.

SeaWorld Animals: Pacific Point Preserve

SeaWorld Florida has recreated the rugged Northwestern Pacific coast in this exhibit, which is home to California sea lions, fur seals, harbor seals and shore birds. Within its two acre area, there are rocky out-croppings and beaches with waves. I'd suggest going here as a 'filler-in' between shows because it never seems too busy.


There's an underwater viewing area here too, so you can see the seals and sea lions swimming by. If you want to get a closer look, you can buy fish to feed to the sea lions, but try to go earlier in the day before the afternoon sun heats up. They seem to be less interested then, or maybe they're just full!?

SeaWorld Animals: Manatees - The Last Generation?

SeaWorld Florida is host to hundreds of injured manatees each year. A Rescue and Rehabilitation Team brings back manatees to be treated and cared for before returning them to the wild. These gentle giants weigh up to 1,000lbs and spend most of their day sleeping or swimming along the sea bed. Unfortunately, boats and other water craft collide with them, especially in shallow waters. You may see scarring on the backs of these mammals caused by boat propeller blades.

Here, you'll find them in a lush lagoon. There are numerous displays showing information about manatees and their plight.

SeaWorld Animals: Clydesdale Hamlet

There are eight magnificent clydesdale horses, otherwise known as the 'Budweiser horses'. Anheuser-Busch is the parent company of SeaWorld theme park and Budwieser. Hence the fairly obvious product placement! Even so, you'll find the clydesdales in the hamlet (stables) or out on parade through the park. Parades run several times per day, check the daily calendar at the park for specific times. There are opportunities to pet the horses and get photographs with them.


Also see the Anheuser-Busch Hospitality Center next door for some free beer and more information on the company.

SeaWorld Animals: Key West

This is an area in the park devoted to sea creatures of warmer climes. There are a few smaller exhibits here:-

• Turtle Point
  SeaWorld has rescued many sea turtles from predators and injury in the wild. You can see six different species here including loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, hawksbill, and green sea turtles. They live in a shallow lagoon complete with sandy beaches, dunes and indigenous plant life. Make a brief stop here as turtles tend not to be the most lively bunch!
  
  
• Dolphin Cove
  
  Dolphin Cove allows you to get up close and feed and pet the dolphins. There's a poolside area where you stand and can reach into the water as they swim by and there's an underwater viewing area beneath. Try to get here early before it gets too crowded. Also, the dolphins seem to be more active in the mornings. Unfortunately, you have to shell out some money to buy fish to feed them, it's around $5 per serving. The feeding times are set each day (so the dolphins don't over eat) so check at the park first thing if you're really set on doing this.
  
  
• Stingray Lagoon
  
  This is more accessible than dolphin cove. Both mature and fledgling stingrays glide around this long shallow pool which is raised to waist height, making it easier to reach them. They are quite acustomed to being touched and feel quite rough.

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