SeaWorld has apparently been sold to The Blackstone Group

September 23, 2009:

SeaWorld Orlando plans to tell its employees Wednesday that the popular water park and several others owned by Busch Entertainment, have been sold to the same company that owns half of Orlando, Central Florida News 13 is reporting. "That would be another huge deal they've been up for sale for a while," Robert Niles from Theme Park Insider told CFN 13. Insiders and experts said the most likely buyer is The Blackstone Group, a private equity firm that already owns half of Universal Studios. Rumours about a possible sale have circulated for months, but recently sources said high-ranking Blackstone officials have been spotted touring SeaWorld Orlando.
The Blackstone Group owns Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd, the largest operator of amusement parks and other attractions in Europe, and the second largest operating globally after Disney. Speculation intensified in recent weeks amid reports that Blackstone is preparing an initial public offering of its Merlin Group, whose holdings include Legoland theme parks, Madame Tussauds wax museums and the London Eye. Analysts say Blackstone could hope to make the Merlin public offering more attractive by acquiring the Busch parks and packaging them with Merlin in the offering or using the proceeds from the IPO to help finance a separate Busch purchase.

Merlin Entertainments has a very interesting policy on care of marine mammals:

Merlin Entertainments is the world's second largest visitor attraction operator with 58 attractions around the world, and the world's premier operator of aquaria through its SEA LIFE brand.

Merlin and SEA LIFE have an excellent record and reputation for the ethical and responsible care, preservation and conservation of the marine environment. This is demonstrated by the way in which our aquariums operate; our rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine animals in distress; and our SOS (Save Our Seas) programmes which have achieved significant global recognition and delivered real conservation successes. We also have very clear policies relating to the captivity, care and treatment of marine mammals such as dolphins and sea lions. Indeed in the case of cetaceans, we have a clear stated policy of concern as to their suitability as display animals, and the company has never condoned the capture of these creatures from the wild for entertainment purposes, or indeed at all.

That said, given Merlin's fast growth over the last 3 years, we have at times acquired businesses which historically have included shows which involve these creatures. In every case we have worked with experts to take immediate action, and develop plans which we believe are in the best interest of the animals involved. These have included the cessation of entertainment 'shows' involving the creatures - either entirely - as with the sea lion shows in Heide Park (Germany) and Gardaland (Italy); or by a complete change of content to ensure that in future any presentations are simply designed to highlight the creatures' more natural behaviour and instincts, and are purely educational.

We are never complacent however, and we are always mindful of our responsibilities to the welfare of the animals in our care, so this policy is constantly monitored. Simultaneously we have reviewed the environment and care of the creatures in every location, and where we do not believe this is adequate or appropriate we have acted decisively.

Dolphins

Merlin Entertainments is committed to ensuring the best possible welfare solution for the dolphins that have come into our care and has, therefore, joined with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) to evaluate all possible options for the future of the dolphins. We are aware that there is an ongoing debate about the viability of releasing captive cetaceans to the open sea, and so Merlin believes that all potential outcomes should be evaluated and considered.

To this end, Merlin has commissioned WDCS to undertake a feasibility study to evaluate all possible future scenarios, including rehabilitation, release and/or retirement of the dolphins to a bespoke natural facility or protected 'natural' retirement home. This project, coordinated by WDCS and involving global expertise, will ensure that the company has as much possible information on which to make a final decision on how best to secure the future for the dolphins currently in its care.

These statements could bring intriguing changes to SeaWorld, whether regarding the end of captures from the wild or the future of displaying cetaceans at all.

Sources: Orlando Sentinel, Merlin Entertainment

Birth at Odessa Dolphinarium (NEMO) - in July 2009

On July 26 actress Vita gave birth to a great baby. (For reference: Vita found thrown on the coast in 2007. With a diagnosis of acute pneumonia. She was rescued by the specialists of Odessa Dolphinarium "Nemo." For a long time, doctors fought for her life. Treatment and rehabilitation Vita lasted more than six months. Remuneration of veterinary specialists dolphinarium was that she not only came back to life, but also created a full family). Genera nachilis at 22:15 just in time, "a romantic night show in front of thousands of spectators who poschastlivelos to witness such an event. Father babes dolphin Kohl always been with stranded during childbirth. Genera proceeded smoothly. Under scrutiny Mom and Dad "Baby" feels good. At 23:45 of the child tasted the first portion of milk, which she had to taste. "Baby" with pleasure practices with the mother's nipples every 15 minutes. My mother gently placed on its side and substitutes a small chest filled with valuable nutritious milk. Specialists Dolphinarium in the collection, regularly monitors the health of mothers and babes. Odessa Dolphinarium on practice three times already! confirmed and reinforced the possible facts of reproduction of marine mammals in the built environment. In 2007 - was born Nemo (my mother Lily, father Gavryusha) in 2008godu - Born Gene (Eugene mother, father, Skipper) and now 2009godu - born "Baby" (Mother Vita father Kolya).

The name "Malyshka was determined in competition to name the letters of visitors to e-mail dolphinarium delfinariy@ukr.net. The most common name in the letters was addressed to Sonya. Pending baby-delfinenka will call Sonia. All contestants who proposed the name of Sonya in the coming days will receive invitations to the Dolphinarium in the presentation on September 2 at 18:00 in the City Day, which will be raffled off the grand prize - swimming with dolphins.

(Translated)

SOURCE: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.nemo.od.ua/&ei=iIWlSsffEoLQsQPzooGNDw&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnemo.od.ua%26hl%3Den

Enoshima Aquarium Reports Death of "Olin"

A young male dolphin named "Olin" has died at the Enoshima Aquarium in Japan. His date of death was August 28th, 2009.

On their website they post:

Four captive bottlenose dolphins of the world, "Olin" the sudden death report

June 2008 4 under Sun 4 bottlenose dolphin born in captivity in the world, "Olin" (male) is, 2009 August 28, early Saturday has died. We are currently investigating the details of the cause of death.

"Olin" in Buridingupuru Irukashosutajiamu this year from six in the month, same time (June 12, 2008), bottlenose dolphin born in the "pick" with participating in the training was pretty popular in sight.

Warm up to it, "Olin" gave us a lot of everyone watching the growth, I would like to thank and appreciate.

※ 8 31 (Mon) 14:20 - the "icon and pick Olga growth Diary" is stopped and we bon appétit. Please note that your.



(Translated)

SOURCE: http://www.enosui.com/

Aqualand announces birth of baby dolphin

Aqualand has announced with great delight the birth of a male baby dolphin on 12 August. His mother, Yemaya, was herself born in the water park 12 years ago, and the new infant, who is in good health, is her second baby. He is expected to participate in exhibitions when he is three or four years old.

The baby dolphin weighed 15 kilos and measured 1.5 metres at birth, and is apparently very energetic, having started making dolphin calls within just 3 hours of being born. He is feeding well and regularly, and swims tirelessly alongside Yemaya.

Yemaya’s first baby was born in the park when she was 7 years old, becoming in the process one of the youngest dolphin mothers in Europe. She is an exemplary mother, said José Luis Barbero, Technical Director of the Dolphinarium at Aqualand, who explained that the dolphin had fed her first infant for three years, behaviour which convinced them that she would once more be an excellent mother for her new baby. Her skills, indeed, have led to her being chosen as one of the females who form part of the dolphin therapy programme at the water park.

source: www.janetanscombe.com

Brookfield Dolphins Transported to the Minnesota Zoo

The Minnesota Zoo's dolphin exhibit just got a little more snug now that they have three of Chicago's bottlenose dolphins crashing there until their new aquarium is completed. Warning to the wise: Don't offer your place to a Chicagoan. They usually overstay their welcome.

The dolphins are from the Brookfield Zoo and arrived Sunday night by a FedEx plane. They were monitored and taken care of by zoo professionals during the trip.

"Tapeko," 27; "Noelani," 5; and "Allison," 3, will live at the Minnesota Zoo until their home is complete in spring 2010. The Seven Seas dolphin arena in Brookfield is 20 years old.

"The move went very smoothly," said Minnesota Zoo Marine Mammal Supervisor Diane Fusco in a press release. "We are excited to have the Brookfield Zoo's dolphins and their staff here while their facility is being remodeled."

The new arrives will live in a separate area away from the zoo's resident dolphins: "April," 42; "Allie," 22; "Spree, 7," and "Semo," 45. They could be integrated into the saving living space in the future.

Six of the Chicago Zoological Society trainers will stay in Minnesota with the dolphins to keep their training continuous.

To see the new arrivals, visit Discovery Bay stadium during the following hours:
August 31 - Labor Day: 9:30 - 4:30 daily
September 8-30: 9:30-2:30 weekdays/9:30 - 4:30 weekends
October 1-May 1: 9:30 - 2:30 daily

SOURCE: http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2009/08/chicago_dolphin.php