ZooApollo
Well-Known Member
It's permanent, SeaWorld is making a big deal about this now
SeaWorld San Diego Penguin Encounter closing?
- Thread starter evilmonkey239
- Start date
It's permanent, SeaWorld is making a big deal about this now
Places make a big deal out of non permanent stuff all the time. Of course they would use the penguins for the renovation promotion either way, that's just good marketing.
BlobfishBoy
Well-Known Member
I wonder why they allowed the public to see the penguins on exhibit and then closed it afterwards. Maybe making some modifications for the emperors?
ZooApollo
Well-Known Member
It never opened,the pictures were from someone who looked through the windows into the window area of the exhibit
peruvianbirdie
Well-Known Member
New footage showing the emperors at Orlando
Sphenisciologist
Well-Known Member
To my knowledge, this now also means that SeaWorld Orlando is currently the only institution in the world to have all Antarctic/subantarctics (excluding Magellanics) - Emperor, King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, and Southern Rockhopper - all in one exhibit. I don’t believe anywhere in China that has Emperors does this because the crested penguins are pretty much not present there and nowhere in Japan with Emperors has Rockhoppers. Just something pretty cool I thought would be worth mentioning and just makes me want to travel to SWF!
classic mistake!
Also the king penguins on the cover of the emperors video
classic mistake!
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Northern Rockhopper not counting as subantarctic? Although the collection is certainly impressive regardless.
Sphenisciologist
Well-Known Member
I always thought of them as too far north in comparison to their Southern counterparts to be considered subantarctic, but after more research I been wrong. Interesting if so, I always thought of the subantarctics/Antarctics as the typical 8. I looked it up to verify and saw mixed results. Perhaps they were recently included?
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Yeah latitudinally they're fairly far north, but still typically housed same as more typical subantarctics in captivity. I agree it could go either way depending on how one looks at it, though they seem to lean more subantarctic to me. Maybe they could be kept more akin to the Spheniscus.
Though care standards are perhaps not the best way of looking at it given Magellanic lives side by side with Gentoo and King on the Falklands - but most places keep the former quite differently from the latter two.
Tbrendann95
New Member
Seems that SeaWorld is not confirming if it’s permanent and seems to be hinting a renovation is coming and not necessarily a removal of all the Antarctic species… SeaWorld San Diego loses its emperor penguins following their move to Orlando – San Diego Union-Tribune
BlobfishBoy
Well-Known Member
Could you copy and paste the article or send a non paywalled article?
Tbrendann95
New Member
here’s the quote
While it’s unclear when — or if — the penguins will eventually return to San Diego, SeaWorld released a statement Thursday to the Union-Tribune indicating that the San Diego park’s 40-year-old Penguin Encounter facility is on tap for some changes.
“Recently, our Emperor penguins relocated to SeaWorld Orlando — a first step in reimagining Penguin Encounter,” SeaWorld parent company United Parks & Resorts said. “Big changes are on the horizon, and we can’t wait to share what’s coming next.”
peruvianbirdie
Well-Known Member
From the sounds of it, it seems like they want to update Penguin Encounter and not completely demolish it. Part of me hopes that means they will continue to care for Antarctic/Subantartics and not just banded penguins. Though I don’t see emperors returning unless surplus happens in Orlando which is less likely, I at least hope we still have Adelies.
peruvianbirdie
Well-Known Member
Hoping this means it’s just renovating for the former species instead of making it strictly for Magellanics. Though it’s a wishful thinking to me to have an Antarctic Realm at San Diego, I just hope we continue to have Antarctic penguins in CA (due to SWCA being the only facility to house them in the state).
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BlobfishBoy
Well-Known Member
Managed to get into the article. There were some concerns expressed in this thread about whether the conditions in Orlando would be suitable for the penguins. The article confirms that they've made modifications specifically for the emperors.
"...the Orlando park, which renovated what’s known as its Antarctica Realm to meet the environmental needs of the species. That includes reducing temperatures to around 28 degrees and mimicking Antarctic light cycles to reflect their natural rhythms".
"...the Orlando park, which renovated what’s known as its Antarctica Realm to meet the environmental needs of the species. That includes reducing temperatures to around 28 degrees and mimicking Antarctic light cycles to reflect their natural rhythms".
peruvianbirdie
Well-Known Member
Very interesting, though I wonder if temperature will be able to keep up with the constant door openings unless the park limits guest entry similar to free-flight aviaries. Hopefully they have a successful breeding next season.
Sphenisciologist
Well-Known Member
I also wonder if the temperature is too low to ensure that guest satisfaction won’t go down at all in an open-top space, though I think that the uniqueness of the emperors and the popularity of penguins to the public eye overall will outweigh that. If it’s anything like St. Louis’s habitat people will be rushing to get out because that just may be too uncomfortable of an experience for the average visitor to have long-standing periods in the habitat to appreciating the birds, between that and the smell as well (though I’ve heard the smell of fish/bird poop is maintained well at SWF). Even St. Louis’s habitat, which is kept at 45 degrees, can get a little unbearable around the half hour mark if not wearing the proper attire. I think I can speak for myself and a lot of us when I say that we would prepare for the cold as much as we can to enjoy our time seeing the emperors and other rare penguin species, and I don’t think the exhibit revenue will decrease much, if at all, but something interesting I’ve been thinking about since my internal assumption that they would hopefully make accommodations at some point.
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peruvianbirdie
Well-Known Member
@seaworld.photos (Instagram) confirmed by staff that Rockhoppers have been removed from the exhibit. She believes the temperature adjustment for emperors could be the reasoning for removal, I also would add either to avoid hybridization with SWCA Macaronis or temperament but I can be incorrect.
peruvianbirdie
Well-Known Member
Wonder if that means that the Rockhoppers are BTS or will be phased out and sent to other zoos/aquariums.
-new educational signs have been added for the emperors
-the Macaronis are from San Diego (Though we probably already knew that)
-personal one but a King chick is in exhibit so I think it’s cool to think if Orlando is able to have Emperor chicks they could be in public display unlike in San Diego BTS exclusive (though I understand for safety reasons for the chicks)
-the Macaronis are from San Diego (Though we probably already knew that)
-personal one but a King chick is in exhibit so I think it’s cool to think if Orlando is able to have Emperor chicks they could be in public display unlike in San Diego BTS exclusive (though I understand for safety reasons for the chicks)
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