SeaWorld, Inc.

▪ American company

      American company that manages commercial theme parks featuring marine life. The company is a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. There are three parks, located in San Diego, California; Orlando, Florida; and San Antonio, Texas.

      All the SeaWorld parks have educational (education) displays and aquariums housing a variety of fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals, including Shamu, a killer whale that is the company mascot and star attraction. Displays of California sea otters and Antarctic penguins are featured at all parks.

      The first SeaWorld opened in San Diego in 1964. Its aquariums hold more than 15,000 specimens of fish, including one of the world's largest collections of sharks. The San Diego park also houses 1,400 birds. The park in Orlando features an 875,000-gallon (3,300,000-litre) coral reef aquarium. Covering 250 acres (101 hectares), SeaWorld of Texas in San Antonio is the largest marine zoological park in the world.

      SeaWorld sponsors educational programs for students and provides guided tours and publications. In 1976 the Orlando park initiated an animal rescue and rehabilitation program to aid injured or orphaned animals. Scientists at the Hubbs–SeaWorld Research Institute in San Diego conduct marine studies, especially research in bioacoustics and the migration and diving habits of sea turtles and pinniped mammals.

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