SeaWorld
SeaWorld is an American theme park chain with headquarters in Orlando, Florida. It is a proprietor of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, animal theme parks, and rehabilitation centers owned by United Parks & Resorts. The parks host shows starring marine mammals, especially dolphins (including orcas) and pinnipeds (e.g. sea lions), as well as zoological displays featuring various other marine animals.
The parks also feature thrill rides, including roller coasters like Kraken, Mako and Manta at SeaWorld Orlando, and Steel Eel and The Great White at SeaWorld San Antonio. Journey to Atlantis, a combination roller coaster and splashdown ride, can be found at all three parks.
There are operations located within the United States in Orlando, Florida; San Diego, California; San Antonio, Texas; later outside the United States such as Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and previously Aurora, Ohio. On March 5, 2007, SeaWorld Orlando announced the addition of the Aquatica water park to its adventure park, which already includes SeaWorld and Discovery Cove.
The parks were bought in 1989 by Busch Entertainment Corp., the family entertainment division of Anheuser-Busch, which is best known for brewing beer. In 2009, Busch Entertainment was sold to the Blackstone Group and subsequently renamed SeaWorld Entertainment. In 2013, Blackstone sold 37% of SeaWorld Entertainment in an initial public offering and sold its remaining 21% holding to Zhonghong Zhuoye in 2017. It is a major theme park competitor to Six Flags, Disney Experiences and Universal Destinations & Experiences.
The parks' marine mammal collections have been the subject of public debate and criticism over the years, with critics saying that the park's practices entail animal abuse. The 2013 documentary film ''Blackfish'', produced after a SeaWorld Orlando trainer was killed by one of the park's orcas, led to initial decreases in attendance, profits and the company's share price. In 2018, SeaWorld's attendance and revenue began to recover with the addition of new rides, shows, and animal exhibits at its parks, as well as increased marketing about the parks' conservation and rescue efforts.
In 2016, SeaWorld announced that they would end their in-park orca breeding program and eventually phase out their theatrical orca shows altogether (due to state legislation in California that banned shows using orcas) starting in San Diego. It was announced later in the same year, that SeaWorld would build their first park without killer whales and outside of the United States in Abu Dhabi. In 2020, SeaWorld Orlando introduced its Orca Encounter presentation to guests. Provided by Wikipedia
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2by Andvik, Clare, Jourdain, Eve, Ruus, Anders, Lyche, Jan L., Karoliussen, Richard, Borgå, KatrineContributors: “...Sea World and Busch Gardens Conservation fund...”
Published in Scientific Reports (2020)
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3by Jourdain, Eve, Karoliussen, Richard, de Vos, Jacques, Zakharov, Stanislav E., Tougard, ChristelleContributors: “...SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund...”
Published in Marine Mammal Science (2019)
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4Contributors: “...SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund...”
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5by Steinman, K. J., Robeck, T. R., Fetter, G. A., Schmitt, T. L., Osborn, S., DiRocco, S., Nollens, H. H., O’Brien, J. K.Contributors: “...SeaWorld Parks and Entertanment...”
Published in Frontiers in Marine Science (2020)
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6by Younger, Jane L., Emmerson, Louise M., Miller, Karen J.Contributors: “...Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation...”
Published in Global Change Biology (2015)
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7Contributors: “...SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund...”
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8by Worthy, Graham A. J., Worthy, Tamara A. M., Yochem, Pamela K., Dold, ChristopherContributors: “...SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund...”
Published in Marine Mammal Science (2013)
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9Isotopic niche differs between seal and fish‐eating killer whales ( Orcinus orca) in northern Norwayby Jourdain, Eve, Andvik, Clare, Karoliussen, Richard, Ruus, Anders, Vongraven, Dag, Borgå, KatrineContributors: “...SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund...”
Published in Ecology and Evolution (2020)
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10by Wyffels, Jennifer T., George, Robert, Christiansen, Emily F., Clauss, Tonya M., Newton, Alisa L., Hyatt, Michael W., Buckner, Chris, LePage, Véronique, Latson, F. Ed, Penfold, Linda M.Contributors: “...SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund...”
Published in Frontiers in Marine Science (2022)
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11by Andvik, Clare, Jourdain, Eve, Lyche, Jan L., Karoliussen, Richard, Borgå, KatrineContributors: “...SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund...”
Published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (2021)
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12by Callan, Chatham K., Burgess, Aurora I., Rothe, Cara R., Touse, ReneeContributors: “...SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund...”
Published in Journal of the World Aquaculture Society (2018)
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13by Jourdain, Eve, Barrett-Lennard, Lance G., Ellis, Graeme M., Ford, John K. B., Karoliussen, Richard, Towers, Jared R., Vongraven, DagContributors: “...SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund...”
Published in Frontiers in Conservation Science (2021)
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14by Stewart, Brent S.Contributors: “...HUBBS-SEA WORLD RESEARCH INST SAN DIEGOCA...”
Published 1998
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15by Bowles, Ann E.Contributors: “...HUBBS-SEA WORLD RESEARCH INST SAN DIEGOCA...”
Published 2000
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16by Stewart, Brent S.Contributors: “...HUBBS-SEA WORLD RESEARCH INST SAN DIEGOCA...”
Published 1999
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17by Evans,W EContributors: “...HUBBS-SEA WORLD RESEARCH INST SAN DIEGO CA...”
Published 1984
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18by Roman, Lauren, Kastury, Farzana, Petit, Sophie, Aleman, Rina, Hardesty, Britta Denise, Wilcox, ChrisContributors: “...Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation...”
Published in Global Ecology and Biogeography (2023)
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19Contributors: “...Sea World & Busch Garden Conservation Fund...”
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