Media: For more information,
contact SeaWorld Public Relations
at (619) 226-3929.
SEAWORLD CARES, 365 DAYS A YEAR
Recycling, animal rescue, electric car chargers and the elimination of plastic bags
are just a few of the park’s green initiatives
Every day of the year, SeaWorld San Diego opens its doors to help entertain, amaze
and educate guests. Behind the scenes of the day-to-day operation of the park there is also a
year-long mission to care for our environment and the animals beyond the borders of our park.
The most recent green initiative took place in December 2011 when SeaWorld installed
four free electric car charging units for park guests in the parking lot. They are good for any
120 volt or 240 volt electric vehicles. Electric cars help reduce green house gases in the
environment.
Recycling Efforts
From hosting electronic recycling events to green construction, SeaWorld San Diego continues
to embrace initiatives that tackle some of today’s most pressing environmental challenges in
the areas of waste, water and food.
Every year, SeaWorld recycles on average more than 13 million pounds of manure, paper and
plastic products, metals, greenery, pallets, cooking oil, construction demolition debris and
batteries, in addition to more traditional recyclable materials. Since 1996, the park has
received San Diego’s Recycler of the Year award 14 times and is a 12-time recipient of the
prestigious State of California Waste Reduction Awards program.
Since 2007, SeaWorld has hosted eight electronic recycling events for California residents.
These free collection events offer a great opportunity for the public to get rid of unwanted
electronic items — such as TVs, VCRs and computers — while making a positive difference in
the environment at the same time. More than 300,000 pounds of materials have been
collected. These events have also raised more than $32,000 for conservation efforts, both local
and globally, including habitat preservation, conservation education and aid for ill, orphaned,
injured or stranded animals.
To help encourage greater recycling on the part of guests and employees, SeaWorld recently
more than doubled the number of recycling bins in the park to more than 300 bins and nearly
50 bins in the staff administration areas.
H20: Reusing a Natural Resource
Innovative moisture sensing technology conserves water by factoring in plant material type,
sun exposure, amount of rainfall, and seasonal adjustments when watering. In a variety of
areas throughout the park, Xeriscaping is employed, a technique using drought-resistant plants
that require little or no irrigation such as cactus, agave and junipers.
SeaWorld San Diego voluntarily implements programs recognized by the Environmental
Protection Agency as the most acceptable management techniques for handling storm-water
runoff and other environmental issues.
SeaWorld San Diego is located on Mission Bay and uses the water from the bay to filter
millions of gallons of water into the park’s many pools and habitats. Demonstrating its
commitment to environmental stewardship, SeaWorld treats the water before it is returned to
Mission Bay. The seawater is filtered and put back in the bay cleaner than it was before. Even
the rainwater and water that is hosed on the pathways at the park is collected and filtered
before it is put in to the bay.
SEAWORLD CARES, 365 DAYS A YEAR
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SeaWorld San Diego continues to investigate a variety of other initiatives aimed at reducing
the water consumption in the park.
Green Education
SeaWorld’s Environmental Team is made up of team members from various departments
throughout the park, including zoological operations, landscape, merchandise, park operations
and culinary operations. The team coordinates events in the park that help educate employees
on environmental issues and provides them with information on how to conduct themselves,
both in the park and at home, in an environmentally friendly manner. The park also provides
opportunities for employees to volunteer for activities like beach clean-ups, habitat restoration
and e-recycling events.
Culinary Operations: Shamu and Friends Enjoy ‘Green’ Food Choices
All of the seafood served to SeaWorld guests — and even the salmon fed to Shamu — is
purchased from sustainably-managed fisheries that promote environmentally responsible
stewardship.
SeaWorld works with the Marine Stewardship Council and Aquaculture Certification Council in
sourcing sustainable seafood options. Both are international, non-profit organizations that
promote environmentally responsible fishing, fish farms, processing and food safety.
SeaWorld San Diego also maintains nutritious diets of the park’s animals, while being mindful
of effective re-use practices at the same time. For example, we feed beef-baron bones to the
polar bears at Wild Arctic, and bread, fruits and lettuces to the domestic animals at “Pets
Rule!” All these materials are recycled from our culinary operations.
Bye, Bye Plastic Bags!
On June 18, 2011 SeaWorld stopped the use of plastic bags at gift shops to coincide with the
grand opening of Turtle Reef. Plastic bags happen to be a huge problem for certain species of
sea turtles, especially leatherbacks, as they sometimes mistake them for jellyfish. Turtle Reef
demonstrates this devastating impact.
“We’re proud of SeaWorld San Diego as they continue to demonstrate their leadership role in
environmental stewardship by eliminating plastic bags in their park,” said John Valencia,
executive director of the San Diego Oceans Foundation. “Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles,
whales and other marine animals die every year from ocean pollution by ingestion or
entanglement of marine debris.”
“SeaWorld is proud to be a responsible steward of the environment, not just here in our park,
but in the oceans and the world we share,” says SeaWorld park president, John Reilly. “We
hope our actions will inspire others to take similar steps that, combined, can make a huge
difference.”
Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Program
Since 1965, SeaWorld San Diego has rescued nearly 6,000 animals and has treated as many
as 475 marine mammals in one year. Of these animals, seals and sea lions form the largest
percentage.
SeaWorld is part of the Southwest Marine Mammal Stranding Network, which is organized by
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Members of the public, lifeguards and other
individuals report strandings to SeaWorld’s rescue hotline (800-541-SEAL) and SeaWorld team
members respond, using guidelines governed by NMFS. Once rescued, animals are nursed
back to health and returned to the wild by a team of experts. If an animal is deemed not
releasable, NMFS determines whether the animal is to remain at SeaWorld or to be cared for at
another facility.
Marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, sea otters, dolphins, whales, manatees, sea turtles
and seabirds may strand for a variety of reasons: illness, injury, exhaustion or separation
SEAWORLD CARES, 365 DAYS A YEAR
Page 3
from their mother. Two of the most common illnesses are malnutrition and dehydration. In
addition, animals may also become entangled in nets, ropes or fishing line; accidentally ingest
plastic or other foreign objects; or suffer habitat loss, which occurs as a result of human
development, over harvesting of natural resources or oil spills.
To care for stranded animals, SeaWorld San Diego is equipped with a state-of-the-art medical
facility, which houses a laboratory with the latest diagnostic equipment, antibiotics,
intravenous fluids and other medications; a surgical suite, which contains a custom surgery
table, X-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy and anesthesia equipment; a food preparation room,
where special diets for rehabilitated animals are prepared; and recovery areas, including pools
and enclosures, tailored to meet the specific needs of each rehabilitating animal.
Oiled Wildlife Care Center
SeaWorld San Diego’s Oiled Wildlife Care Center is for animals that fall victim to oil spills.
The 8,000-square-foot center was established in 2000 by SeaWorld San Diego, the California
Department of Fish and Game and the University of California, Davis. It includes examination,
treatment and food preparation areas, an aviary and a 32,000-gallon rehabilitation pool that
can hold 20 oiled sea otters or pinnipeds in the event of an oil spill in Southern California. The
facility can treat up to 200 oiled seabirds at a time. The center is one of five regional oiled
wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facilities participating in the Oiled Wildlife Care Network.
The center is staffed by team members from SeaWorld San Diego’s aviculture and animal care
departments who have received state certification and training to work with oiled animals.
When the center is not being used for oil spill rescue, it houses rehabilitating marine animals.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment inspires people to celebrate, connect, and care for the
natural world through the power of entertainment. The company owns and operates 10 parks
across the United States, as well as the newly formed SeaWorld Pictures division. The parks
play host to 23 million guests a year and provide lasting memories through up-close animal
encounters, world-class shows and rides, and high-quality themed attractions. Locations
include SeaWorld parks in Orlando, Fla., San Diego and San Antonio; Busch Gardens parks in
Tampa, Fla. and Williamsburg, Va.; Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando; Sesame Place
near Philadelphia, Pa.; and water parks Adventure Island in Tampa and Water Country USA in
Williamsburg.
A global leader in animal care and conservation, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment cares
for more than 60,000 animals including 200 endangered or threatened species. This
commitment extends to animals around the world: The company has contributed more than
$50 million to conservation, wildlife rescue and environmental stewardship initiatives and
operates one of the world’s most respected animal rescue and rehabilitation programs.
SeaWorld has rescued more than 18,000 orphaned, injured or ill animals over four decades.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment employs 20,000 people nationwide and is a portfolio
company of The Blackstone Group (NYSE:BX).
Created: Jan. 2012