Posted by Ashley McChesney on Mon, Mar 29, 2010 @ 12:40 PM
An interview with SeaWorld's curator of animal training, Kelly Flaherty Clark, about a day in the life of Tilikum:
Q. How is a day in the life of Tilikum different now?
In most respects Tilikum's day is not much different at all. We are continuing the level of interaction and socialization he's always had; we're just making sure we do so from a safe distance. He still has access to all of the pools in the 7 million-gallon Shamu Stadium complex, enjoys social interactions with the other whales and is participating in numerous training, play and exercise sessions throughout each day.
Second only to the safety of our animals is ensuring the highest standard of care for our animals. One of the most important things we do is to take care of whales' health and mental stimulation. Part of this stimulation is making sure they have a variety of different experiences each day.
We have a deep love for all of our animals our trainers are continually devising ways to keep them all engaged and stimulated safely.
Q. What type of interactions can you do with Tilikum from a distance?
The most important consideration is variety; no day is ever the same. That keeps the whales engaged, always learning new behaviors. We vary what types of sessions we do each day, as well what each session includes. Fun experiences we did just today with him include giving him ice or toys filled with fish, a 120-pound, 6-foot diameter plastic Frisbee, and watching us paint pictures through the underwater viewing panels.
Tilikum also enjoys having his skin rubbed. Right now we are not touching him with our hands, so, instead of using our fingers, we use a powerful water hose -- just like a giant water massage -- and brushes as extensions of our hands. So he is still getting everything he is used to and everything he enjoys, just in a new and different way.
Our veterinarians still have access to Tilikum to care for him. All of our whales are trained to voluntarily give us their tail flukes to obtain blood samples; we've just trained Tilikum now do it from a different position now to ensure everyone's safety.
Q. Is he around any other whales?
Absolutely. Socialization with the other whales is a big part of these animals' day and we would never change that.
Q. What challenges have you had as a trainer?
A. Our entire environment has changed for us and that's a challenge. But you don't make animal training a career unless you love challenges. Right now, we are training new behaviors. We used to interact very closely with Tilikum, but now maintain a safe distance. Throughout these new approaches, Tilikum is responding positively and learning new behaviors very quickly, which are great indicaters he is content.
Read more and see a slideshow of a day in Tilikum's life
here.
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Mon, Mar 29, 2010 @ 12:30 PM
Here it is…your first look at a Tron light cycle on our “highway in the sky” at Walt Disney World. You can see it for yourself on the Epcot monorail line.
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Mon, Mar 29, 2010 @ 11:56 AM
A pair of western lowland gorillas - a mother and daughter - were introduced to the public today at their new home at Busch Gardens.
Mary, 22, and Pele, 8, can be viewed at the Myombe Reserve habitat. They join four gorillas already there: Kishina, Inaki, Sim Sim and Bolingo.
The additions came from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, in mid-February. They are part of a Species Survival Plan, approved by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums to oversee population management of captive animals.
The plan makes sure zoo animals aren't inbred and guarantees a genetic diversity of endangered species. The plan pairs animals to breed to sustain captive animal populations. Western lowland gorillas can live to be 35 years old and grow to 6 feet tall and 400 pounds.
Mary and Pele were born at the Brownsville zoo, and Mary is the daughter of the zoo's original western lowland gorillas, Lamydoc and Katanga.
Busch Gardens' zookeepers hope to breed the new arrivals with Sim Sim or Bolingo, depending on how the animals get along.
Western lowland gorillas are native to Africa and critically endangered animals. Their survival in the wild is threatened by habitat degradation, poaching and disease transmission.
Myombe Reserve at Busch Gardens is a 3-acre rainforest environment. It opened in 1991.
Via:
Tampa Bay OnlineTake a look at all Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida has to offer
here!
Posted by Ashley McChesney on Tue, Mar 09, 2010 @ 04:51 PM
It takes 24,000 cast member hours to make the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival happen. But that's just a number until you're able to actually see the work behind it all - so, how about an exclusive peek? Take a look at overnight time-lapse video featuring the creation of an area containing three of the more than 70 Disney character topiaries in the park this year.
Get your tickets for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival now before prices go up this year!
Disney World Epcot Vacation Packages start at $109 for 3 days and 2 nights in a resort and 2 tickets for the event at Epcot.
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Wed, Mar 03, 2010 @ 04:48 PM
What better way to begin a week than with a stunning first image of the newest member of the family at Disney's Animal Kingdom - a critically endangered western lowland gorilla. And the best part is that you can see the newborn gorilla now at the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.
The newborn gorilla (photographed by Gene Duncan) is doing well and has already become an integral part of the gorilla family group that includes first-time mother, Kashata, father Gino and two other females. Since Kashata has been holding the baby close to her body, animal keepers have yet to determine the baby's gender.
The new baby is the third gorilla born at Disney's Animal Kingdom as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan which manages genetic diversity among species through detailed records of individual animals. Disney's Animal Kingdom also participates in AZA Species Survival Plans for several other animals, including elephants, cotton-top tamarins and okapi.
The first gorilla birth occurred in 1997 before Disney's Animal Kingdom opened, and the second baby arrived in 1999.
Via:
Disney Parks BlogGet your tickets for Summer Nightastic at Disney now!
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Wed, Mar 03, 2010 @ 04:37 PM
The PlayStation Pavilion at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex showcases an evolving line-up of the latest PlayStation games including player favorites. The PlayStation Pavilion will play host to some of the biggest titles and PlayStation exclusives such as UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves, MLB 10: The Show, inFAMOUS, Buzz! Quiz World, LittleBigPlanet, and MAG all on 40" TVs in glorious HD. The Pavilion is also outfitted with its own stage where you can grab the mic and jam to your favorite tunes.
Playstation will also be working with Disney to host on-site tournaments and "gamer nights," where leader boards positioned throughout ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will keep you apprised of the latest standings and give others a chance to challenge your high score.
See more here.
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Mon, Mar 01, 2010 @ 09:52 AM
The Harlem Globetrotters performed at the grand opening of the ESPN Wide World of Sports (formerly Disney's Wide World of Sports). See video of the event below!
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Sat, Feb 27, 2010 @ 10:15 AM
Universal Orlando Resort home to the biggest and most authentic Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans is showing you how to bring the flavor of The Big Easy to your kitchen by sharing its popular Mardi Gras jambalaya recipe.
In this all-new video, award-winning Universal Parks and Resorts Executive Chef Steven Jayson shares the step-by-step process that he uses to make the delicious jambalaya that has become a must-taste for Mardi Gras guests. The full recipe is included at the end of the demo.
Join in the fun and come Let the Music Move You at the biggest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans.
Vacation Packages start at $99 and include two tickets to Universal Studios Orlando, Florida and 3 days and 2 nights in a luxury hotel!
Best Value:
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Sat, Feb 27, 2010 @ 10:08 AM
SeaWorld was nice enough to share their amazing recipe for pulled pork with the world!
Bands Brew & BBQ Pulled Pork
Makes 10 Servings
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ pounds boneless pork shoulder
- 1 ounce carrot, diced
- 1 ounce celery, diced
- 1 ounce onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon jerk spice
- ½ cup water
- 3 ounces beer
- ½ fluid ounce vegetable oil
Instructions:
1. Heat large sauce pot; add oil, then pan-sear pork on all sides until golden brown.
2. Add vegetables and sauté for two minutes on medium heat.
3. Add garlic and jerk spice.
4. Add water and beer, bring to boil, reduce heat to simmer and cover.
5. Cook for two to three hours or until pork begins to fall apart. There should be very little liquid in pan when pork is cooked.
6. Drain the rest of the liquid and shred pork until all pieces are bite size.
7. Enjoy on a sandwich or on biscuits. Use this sauce as a condiment or a dipping sauce.
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Thu, Feb 18, 2010 @ 03:54 PM
Willie Nelson performed at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Valentines Day 2010 for Bands Brew and BBQ.
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