ukstitch
<font color=deeppink>I'm not sure I'm quite your a
- Joined
- May 5, 2008
- Messages
- 5,487
I did this on Saturday 12th December and had an absolutely amazing time...
I booked the 1pm interaction, so checked in about 15 minutes earlier. We were taken behind the scenes to the walrus enclosure where were were given fish to feed them and told all about how they train them and so on.
We were then taken behind the scenes to the polar bear exhibit where they explained all the security they have to have, as well as how they rotate toys and things to help prevent the bears from becoming bored. We were also shown again how they feed the bears with tongs and have them trained to do certain things so they can check their health.
Finally we were taken to some changing rooms where were were given a wet suit and boots to put on, then were taken into the Beluga enclosure. There were 8 of us in total and we were divided into 2 groups of 4. There was a whale for each group and we did various behaviours with the whales, which varied from person to person.
We got to touch and stroke both whales and I had one behaviour where the whale comes up to your outstretched hand and another where they do something similar but you then lower your hand to their belly. Other people got a kiss from the whale, a cuddle and I think a couple of others as well.
We aso got to hold the tail of the whales and to get them to sing for us. We were also given food to reward them with for completing the behaviours.
Finally, we were (optionally) soaked by the whales at the end, courtesy of a tail slam delivered by the whale.
Pictures were taken throughout and could be bought after ($90 for the CD of all photos or cheaper prices were available for single pictures), or alternatively the experience took place in the public enclosure so if you're travelling with somebody then you could always have them take pictures, although the behaviours tend to be done in a direction such that the sea world photographers always got the best pictures. The CD is a reasonable price though - I bought one and there are a total of 66 pictures with me in them and of course by having the CD, you get the original images to re-print as you wish.
I booked the 1pm interaction, so checked in about 15 minutes earlier. We were taken behind the scenes to the walrus enclosure where were were given fish to feed them and told all about how they train them and so on.
We were then taken behind the scenes to the polar bear exhibit where they explained all the security they have to have, as well as how they rotate toys and things to help prevent the bears from becoming bored. We were also shown again how they feed the bears with tongs and have them trained to do certain things so they can check their health.
Finally we were taken to some changing rooms where were were given a wet suit and boots to put on, then were taken into the Beluga enclosure. There were 8 of us in total and we were divided into 2 groups of 4. There was a whale for each group and we did various behaviours with the whales, which varied from person to person.
We got to touch and stroke both whales and I had one behaviour where the whale comes up to your outstretched hand and another where they do something similar but you then lower your hand to their belly. Other people got a kiss from the whale, a cuddle and I think a couple of others as well.
We aso got to hold the tail of the whales and to get them to sing for us. We were also given food to reward them with for completing the behaviours.
Finally, we were (optionally) soaked by the whales at the end, courtesy of a tail slam delivered by the whale.
Pictures were taken throughout and could be bought after ($90 for the CD of all photos or cheaper prices were available for single pictures), or alternatively the experience took place in the public enclosure so if you're travelling with somebody then you could always have them take pictures, although the behaviours tend to be done in a direction such that the sea world photographers always got the best pictures. The CD is a reasonable price though - I bought one and there are a total of 66 pictures with me in them and of course by having the CD, you get the original images to re-print as you wish.
