Seaworld » Sea World Gold Coast

05-08-2007

They did release a dugong back into Moreton Bay a few years ago. The whole hippo things sounds very interesting but I'm not too sure about Orcas, I'm not even sure about keeping dolphins in captivity but at least they are smaller than orcas. I see that in the article, Currumbin getting pandas was also mentioned.

05-08-2007

i am not fully supportive of the orca thing, they are such big and amazing animals, so i dont know if i would support them in captivity, as i would elephnats. plus, not to emntion locating surplus, and even more transporting half way around the world, its not everyday that orcas wash up in eden! or anywhere in oz for that matter. the only thing i would support is something close to the size of constructing an enitre outlet in a harbour next to sea world, with rotation facilitties ofr underwater viewing!

05-08-2007

i think seaworld's plans to acquire river hippo is a good move from a regional perspective, increasing both holding capacity and uniting the two blood lines of hippo in the country in what would undoubtably be superb facilities. hippos do well in captivity, and theyre popular with the public.

on the other hand, importing orcas seems a bit wrong to me. i think orcas are another league beyond elephants. its far easier to enrich a terrestrial environment than it is to enrich an aquatic exhibit, most of which end up as giant swimming pools surrounded by giant tv screens. in the US institutions holding killer whales have recovered alot of valuable data and bred them quite succesfully, but unless Seaworld Australia can promise to do for orcas what it did for polar bears (build them a bloody good exhibit) than i couldnt forgive them for blatantly compromising animal welfare to make profits.

06-08-2007

the melbourne aquarium is in the process of constructing an indoor penguin facility for a few antarctic species to be imported from the US and around teh place. they did have some loose plans for sea otters, but i'm not sure if that is still on the cards. other marine-themed aquariums in australia and abroad settle for short-clawed otters, so i'm almost supprised sea world havent already got some.

the hippos that "surf" in west africa isn't a common site - it took the NG crew weeks and weeks to find the few that were photographed. personally, i agree that hippos dont exactly fit in with the seaworld theme and would prefer them to focus exclusively on educating about marine environments, however, i can't say i'de be sad to see the hippos leave cairns for an ARAZPA member institution. the two younger hippos are males, offspring of the older female there as far as i know.... hopefully we will see a bit of swapping take place as someone suggested might occour.

orcas don't do well in captivity at all. much worse than dolphins from what i have read. i can see a controversy there in the making.. funny enough i have long wondered if seaworld australia planned on expanding into some of the species seen so often in US parks. orcas are the main attraction but i have wondered of the prospect of them aquiring walrus (no doubt a few more arctic elements to compliment their bears - they already have harbour seals...)

i doubt they will get manatees since they already have the australian equivelent in dugongs. they now house a male/female pair of manatee, that are to stay permanently at the park since teh reitroduction attempts proved unsuccessful. i have no idea if they plan to try and breed the two. i have never heard it mentioned from the park but hopefully they will...i don't know if anyone has ever bred them in captivity before..

06-08-2007

i googled this, and heaps of links cam eup, tis one got me interested though, Aquarium prepares for the patter of happy feet - National - theage.com.au

at the bottom it says that the previous operators, oceanias or something, proposed the penguin exhibit, as well as a rainforest one, this would be kool!

06-08-2007

i would have secretly hoped that zoos victoria would buy the aquarium off oceanis group and relocate the seals there - however, the aquarium is in a small site in an inappropriate location. they had to aquire new land to do the penguin addition and even then it will still be a small aquarium, built underneath a bridge. they should have done it at docklands - not opposite the casino.

i'll probably make a visit to see the penguins but it'll be only my second visit ever. it definately fails to impress....

06-08-2007

i hate to say, but i agree with you pat, me and dad went over whilst mum and sis shopped, dad loves aquariums over zoos, and he wasnt impressed by melbourne. neither was i. it was nice, but just not very large, very crammed, and i just carnt put my fingure on why, maybe no realy big attractions? no seals, no huge sharks, and the 'oceanairum' just didnt do it for me. still i love anything with animals, and this was no different, it was just more dissapointing, and yes, antatric penguins will make it!

on this, doe anyone know the procees of importing penguins, like do they follow same import standars of other birds- very hard!

06-08-2007

the melbourne aquarium sucks balls, but its no worse than London aquarium, which is a real disappoinment of which the administration is no doubt nervous about the opening of ZSL's Biota in 2008 or 2009. and i believe it could be a good attraction, albeit a smaller one, once the redevelopment is finalised.
the best aquariums going would have to be Sydney Aquarium, and AQWA in Western Australia, although the WA aquarium has a pretty bad seal exhibit. ironically, the opening of Great Southern Oceans at Taronga will probably mean the best marine-themed exhibits anywhere in the country, region or maybe even the world will actually be in a zoo!
as for Seaworld, like i said hippos im cool with, but orcas, no. and i forgot about the dugongs, which could become star attractions given the right exhibit. lets just wait and see what happens. Seaworld might even end with Giant Pandas. It is Queensland after all and pandas surf, dont they? lol

07-08-2007

you got yourself a pixar film right there glyn....

05-04-2008

Thats so cool