SeaWorld San Diego Penguin Encounter closing?
- Thread starter evilmonkey239
- Start date
Did the employee confirm where they are moving to? Orlando and the UAE are the top mentioned.
ZooApollo
Well-Known Member
It's orlando.
Cool, any news if they will be on display or just BTS?
ZooApollo
Well-Known Member
No, but what is known is that Orlando's penguin exhibit is too warm for Emperor penguins, so I'm not sure what's going to happen there. This was a corporate made decision not aviculture.
peruvianbirdie
Well-Known Member
I find it a tad disappointing SeaWorld didn’t confirm this move via their social media etc. Granted perhaps to the general public this probably wouldn’t be a huge deal like it would if it were orcas or belugas being transferred, heck maybe I’ll go far to say that the park can get away with phasing out sea lions and won’t make news or be major! I mean these are the only Emperor penguins of any American zoo for crying out loud. I feel for those who are expecting to see emperors in the next visit.
As for the move, I believe the main issue is that there seems to be no other penguin exhibit (NA) that meets the temperature requirement for emperors. Imo Antarctica:Empire of the Penguin had the potential to house them comfortably though that would’ve meant changing the temperature (insure if this would’ve cause negative reactions to the current penguins). If the penguins are destined for backstage, I somewhat can’t help but feel like it’s a downgrade compared to to their emperor’s former Penguin Encounter CA which though some might see outdated at least is adequate and attempts to be naturalistic (even going beyond by adding real snow).
Now of the penguins are destined to go to Abu Dhabi, I’m mixed about this. Now I have not seen their penguin exhibit or know the temperature kept, maybe it might be great. But I’m admittedly salty another Asian facility holding emperors. but at the end of the day, as long as the emperors are safe and thriving, that’s what should matter the most.
In general, I’m a bit bittersweet of this whole situation despite being partly positive at the same time. As a penguin enthusiast, this definitely going to be a wicked blow for SeaWorld San Diego collection and I felt SeaWorld should have made this a huge deal and officially announced the move prior to the public.
I wish the best for the whole aviculture team and penguins. Hope this will be thoughtfully executed since there’s only 18 emperors here (a fragile and tiny population). Probably should have made this a thread, sorry for this long vent/post. I’m considering making an Emperor penguin population thread which might be difficult heck even impossible due to no stud books on SeaWorld’s emperors or Asian holders, in general it seems daunting to speculate captive bird populations it seems.
As for the move, I believe the main issue is that there seems to be no other penguin exhibit (NA) that meets the temperature requirement for emperors. Imo Antarctica:Empire of the Penguin had the potential to house them comfortably though that would’ve meant changing the temperature (insure if this would’ve cause negative reactions to the current penguins). If the penguins are destined for backstage, I somewhat can’t help but feel like it’s a downgrade compared to to their emperor’s former Penguin Encounter CA which though some might see outdated at least is adequate and attempts to be naturalistic (even going beyond by adding real snow).
Now of the penguins are destined to go to Abu Dhabi, I’m mixed about this. Now I have not seen their penguin exhibit or know the temperature kept, maybe it might be great. But I’m admittedly salty another Asian facility holding emperors. but at the end of the day, as long as the emperors are safe and thriving, that’s what should matter the most.
In general, I’m a bit bittersweet of this whole situation despite being partly positive at the same time. As a penguin enthusiast, this definitely going to be a wicked blow for SeaWorld San Diego collection and I felt SeaWorld should have made this a huge deal and officially announced the move prior to the public.
I wish the best for the whole aviculture team and penguins. Hope this will be thoughtfully executed since there’s only 18 emperors here (a fragile and tiny population). Probably should have made this a thread, sorry for this long vent/post. I’m considering making an Emperor penguin population thread which might be difficult heck even impossible due to no stud books on SeaWorld’s emperors or Asian holders, in general it seems daunting to speculate captive bird populations it seems.
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ZooApollo
Well-Known Member
The move, along with the new temperature will unfortunately effect their breeding.
As for no announcement, it sucks but SeaWorld has been doing this to prevent activists trying to interfere with moves, like how they didn't even say Ukiaq (walrus) was at SeaWorld yet, that was kept pretty hidden. The beluga move was also not announced, they just disappeared from Orlando and new ones came in later. I cannot name any on the top of my head but I think there has been a few animal transfers (in zoos in general) that activists tried to barricade or block
peruvianbirdie
Well-Known Member
Does make sense, I’m sure PETA/SeaWorldofHurt and the Dodo would’ve/still milk the penguin transfer and just anything SeaWorld does animal related (they already attacked over one of the parks sending dolphins to the Abu Dhabi park). It’s very sad and unfair that SeaWorld receives backlash for any animal procedure normal in AZA zoos, if this happened at Disney’s zoo/aquarium or a zoo like San Diego, they wouldn’t receive that much criticism.
I understand that cetaceans and pinnipeds would be controversial, but penguins?! Though to be fair the mentioned sites (PETA/SWoH and Dodo) basically milk any animal that calls SeaWorld home even penguins. They exaggerated the instance of a Gentoo hopping out of Orlando exhibit (there is a video) saying the penguin wanted freedom out of its tank, and they of course oppose the penguin experiences and field trips the penguins take (example include an a airport). I do feel like penguins are charismatic animals but those very rare to see people opposed to having them in captivity, those who do are just in general against every animal in captivity.
it truly sucks that the temperature change might affect Emeprors breeding and I wished the park took further executions to continue the breeding program. I really do hope this doesn’t end Emperor population in the US, but it seems to be heading that route soon. Oddly enough seems that facilities outside US have higher breeding success as seen in Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in this relatively recent video by EchoBeluga!
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USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
Hopefully we see the emperors stay in the states and on display. I think Detroit might meet the temperature requirements, but might just miss it.
King of Komodo Dragons
Well-Known Member
Didn't the Orlando penguin exhibit just have a renovation? is it possible that they lowered the temps now to make it habitable for the emperors?
ZooApollo
Well-Known Member
Are you thinking about the ride opening last year? They didn't touch the exhibit. And I did a tour around 2 months ago and it wasnt cold enough.
In theory wouldn’t the temperature of Orlando’s exhibit not be that difficult to adjust a bit, if they decided to publicly house emperors there?
Well part of the problem with Orlando’s is how feasible changing the temperature actually is. It’s not an enclosed system like San Diego, it’s a walk through. Every time guests enter and leave they bring in warmth with them. Even if they could push the system to overwhelm the entering heat, the cost of upkeep and maintenance would be enormous. Either they won’t change the temperature and add the emperor’s regardless, or house them in a backstage facility where they can better control the temperature.
zoocentral
Well-Known Member
I can confirm, I also have been told the move was pushed back to next week. I think it is worth mentioning though that the move will take several days with all those birds.
ZooApollo
Well-Known Member
Yes, and they're transporting them via truck, not plane
Why on earth would you transport the most heat intolerant Penguins by truck all the way across the country right as the summer heat is kicking in... if anything goes wrong it could well be curtains for the birds. Unless I'm forgetting somewhere only Albuquerque and Fort Worth have subantarctic exhibits along the assumable route direction. Fingers crossed for safe transits...
peruvianbirdie
Well-Known Member
Yes! Like they have a confirmed elder (Esther alongside any older birds) and of course Pearl being the youngest, plus were talking only 18 whopping individuals alongside hundreds other penguin species, hope they have some sort of artificial or advanced vehicle to maintain such low temperatures. If anything goes wrong this just will worsen the already controversial brand's PR and orgs like PETA and Dodo will have a feast! As you said I do hope for a safe transport and hope the all the penguins are able to adapt towards new change.
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Such vehicles do exist and are used for such transports, but it just feels heavily risky given the time of year. Google says the fastest route is 35 hours and nearly 2,500 miles. Hoping for the best.
ZooApollo
Well-Known Member
Its a refrigerated truck, completely controlled temperatures, they're crated, they're also checking on them every hour. According to the person I talked to, it's meant to be less stressful than a plane.
I know there's a lot of effort to make things as less stressful as possible. It just seems darn dicey to move the Emperors that way when most of the Southern US is projected to be 85-90 F daytime temps during that timeframe. The refrigerated technology is there and such moves always have contingency plans, but it just seems like questionable timing when we're talking about live animals.