Latest news with #SeaWorld
Miami Herald
16 hours ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
Killer whales seen ‘kissing' for the first time in the wild, photo shows
For the first time, a pair of killer whales were seen 'kissing' in the wild, photo and video evidence reveals. The intimate encounter took place in October 2024, near the Kvænangen fjords of Norway, located above the Arctic Circle in the country's far north. A group of snorkelers witnessed the 'rare and previously undocumented' encounter below their boat, according to a study published June 11 in the journal Oceans. One snorkeler captured video of it with a handheld GoPro camera. The footage, available online, shows the two marine mammals touching mouths while floating motionless below the waves. The amorous affair 'lasted nearly two minutes and involved repeated episodes of gentle, face-to-face oral contact,' according to the study, published by researchers from Spain and the Netherlands. At the time of the observation, onlookers said the orcas 'appeared to be 'kissing' beneath the boat.' While it's the first time such behavior has been recorded in 'free-ranging' or wild orcas, it has been documented in captivity on a few occasions. For example, in 2013, a pair of killer whales in Loro Parque, a Spanish zoo, were seen engaging in tongue-to-tongue contact. The behavior, dubbed 'tongue-nibbling,' has also been observed in other species under the care of humans, including in beluga whales at a SeaWorld in Texas. In most instances, it takes place between younger individuals. Researchers described the curious conduct as 'a socially affiliative behavior' that is 'likely involved in reinforcing social bonds, particularly among juveniles.' The fact that it has been documented across time and geographical settings 'suggests remarkable behavioural continuity,' they added.
News.com.au
a day ago
- General
- News.com.au
Dramatic footage captures moment Sea World team free entangled whale caught in net off Qld coast
The dramatic moment a whale entangled in fishing nets off the coast of Queensland was rescued has been caught on tape. The Sea World Rescue Team was dispatched after receiving reports from a ferry trawling near North Stradbroke Island, off the Queensland coast, that a whale had become entangled in buoys and ropes. Footage shows the 8m humpback whale showing obvious signs of distress as it thrashes and repeatedly breaches the water while rescuers deliberate on how to assist the creature. In the dramatic footage, the rescue team drives right up alongside the whale as they attempt to use hooks and other tools to dislodge the various pieces of equipment attached to it. Sea World Foundation Head of Marine Science Wayne Phillips said it was 'a privilege' to be at the scene when rescuers were able to free the enormous creature from its restraints. 'The cutting team did an amazing job releasing the whale as quickly as they could,' Mr Phillips said. 'Two simple cuts – there was one cut on some rope that was draped across the right side of the tail fluke, and then a final cut right at the tip of the left side of the tail fluke, and then the animal was free,' he said. Marine Mammal Specialist Benjamin Markham said seeing the whale happily swim off was 'incredible'. 'Seeing him swim off with his pecks nice and wide and his tail moving freely was very rewarding,' Mr Markham said. 'We did start to see some sort of infiltration on the right hand side of the tail fluke, where that rope was hanging out … I think we got it just in time. Any longer and we certainly would have seen a bit more damage.' The team has engaged in two 'mobile disentanglements' this migration season, and with more whales expected to head up the coast, Phillips says there is a high likelihood the team will encounter more creatures 'with gear on them'. 'Our rescue team remains on standby to assist.'
CairoScene
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Electric Ocean Festival Returns to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi on June 28th
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi's Electric Ocean Festival returns from June 28th to August 31st with neon shows, silent discos, and extended hours. Jun 25, 2025 SeaWorld Yas Island in Abu Dhabi is bringing back its Electric Ocean Festival for a second summer, running daily from June 28th to August 31st, 2025. Held inside the world's largest indoor marine life theme park, this year's edition features extended opening hours from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, along with a few new additions to the lineup. Highlights include a pre-show party to get visitors in the mood, neon performances, and a silent disco where guests can dance to their own rhythm with wireless headphones. Some festival favourites are also making a return: glow-in-the-dark face painting and a neon art station for children to create their own glowing ocean-inspired artwork. Characters like Sakina, SeaStar, Puck, and Shivers will also be making appearances in special themed outfits throughout the event. The festival forms part of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi's wider 'One Ocean' narrative, which focuses on the connection between people and the planet's oceans. Alongside the entertainment, the festival also carries an educational message, encouraging guests to learn more about marine life and ocean conservation. Through the park's 'Admission with a Mission' initiative, every ticket purchased helps support the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center - the region's largest facility dedicated to marine animal rescue, rehabilitation, and research.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
The neon Electric Ocean Festival is coming back to Abu Dhabi and it looks great
Get ready to ride a wave of neon shenanigans because the Electric Ocean Festival is making a glowing comeback at SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, and this year it's bringing even more energy, lights, music and under-the-sea magic. Running daily from June 28 to August 31, the much-loved festival is returning for a second edition, and it's amping things up for 2025 with brand-new experiences, extended hours and a fresh line-up of fun. Whether you're bringing the little ones, showing out with friends or just want something dazzlingly different to do, this is one summer event that's worth diving into. So, what's new? For starters, there's a pre-show party to get everyone grooving before the main event kicks off. Expect a neon spectacle at the heart of the One Ocean realm, where breakdancers, drummers, aerial acrobats and SeaWorld's vibrant cast of characters – including Sakina, SeaStar, Puck and Shivers – take over the stage. And if you're really feeling the beat, don't miss the immersive silent disco. Strap on a pair of glowing headphones and dance like nobody's watching – because, well, no one can hear your tunes but you. You'll also find returning fan favourites like glow-in-the-dark face painting and a neon art station, where kids can create their own luminous underwater masterpieces – all in the spirit of the ocean's wonders. At its core, Electric Ocean celebrates SeaWorld Abu Dhabi's 'One Ocean' story, highlighting the deep connection between us and our oceans. It's an inspiring mix of fun, education and ocean advocacy that supports marine conservation efforts through the park's 'Admission with a Mission' programme. And yes, they're giving us more hours to enjoy it all – with opening hours extended from 10am to 8pm daily during the entire festival period. From Dhs375 (adult), Dhs320 (kids). Daily from June 28 to August 31, 10am-8pm. SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Summer in Abu Dhabi This is exactly how long summer will last in Abu Dhabi this year Feeling the heat? The 27 best things to do indoors this summer in Abu Dhabi It's time for some air-conditioned bliss Yas Waterworld's epic new expansion is opening this summer – including 12 new slides Weeeeee!
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mime publicly shames dad in front of wife carrying baby and heavy bag at SeaWorld: ‘Passenger parenting'
It's the viral TikTok doing the rounds again: a mime at SeaWorld sees a mom carrying a baby and a heavy backpack, looks at the dad walking beside her, and does what the internet has dubbed a public service. The mime takes the baby bag from the mom, dumps it on the dad's shoulder, gives her a playful pat on the back, and walks off to cheers from the crowd. The mime then turns back to the mom, does a phone-to-the-ear gesture, and mouths 'call me.' It's funny. Until it's not. Because while we're all in on the joke, and the crowd is cheering and TikTok commenters are lining up with popcorn GIFs, what we're actually laughing at is the tired old trope of one partner (usually a father, but not always) coasting through parenting while the other is drowning in it. The timing of the clip's resurgence couldn't be more apt. This weekend, the ABC published a report on a phenomenon dubbed 'passenger parenting,' based on new research by Norma Barrett from Deakin University. Barrett and her team interviewed Australian fathers of young children and uncovered a troubling theme: men who want to be equal partners in parenting, but instead find themselves on the outer. Not because they don't care. Not because they're lazy. But because the structure of early parenthood, and outdated social norms, push them to the side. Barrett's research reveals that dads can feel like 'sidekicks' in their own families. The early days of parenting often see moms take the reins – for practical and physical reasons, yes, but also because that's the expectation. From breastfeeding to baby appointments, moms become the default parents. And even when both partners are well-intentioned, this default dynamic can stick around long after it's useful or necessary. The result? One partner feeling burdened, burnt out, and unsupported. The other feeling excluded, unsure of their role, and eventually disengaged. It's a dynamic that can quietly erode a relationship, leave kids with a skewed idea of what partnership looks like, and rob families of the opportunity to thrive as a team. And while passenger parenting might look suspiciously like weaponised incompetence, there's an important distinction. Psychologist Carly Dober explains in the ABC article that weaponised incompetence is deliberate helplessness. Passenger parenting, on the other hand, is often born from uncertainty, guilt, and a lack of opportunity to build confidence as a parent. It's not malicious. But it is harmful. For starters, we stop laughing. Not in a humourless way (because yes, the mime video is objectively hilarious). But in a way that recognises the harm in normalising imbalance. This isn't about dad-shaming or creating yet another parental guilt pile-on. It's about all partners – dads, moms, everyone in between – being aware of the dynamic they're living in. And then working together to change it. It helps to get specific. If you feel like a passenger parent, ask your partner where they'd most appreciate support. Take responsibility for certain tasks. Learn how to do them well. Get involved in the micro-decisions, not just the fun stuff. If you're the one doing the bulk of the load, try to share your knowledge in a way that builds the other person up, not shuts them down. Ultimately, what our kids see matters. If we want to raise a generation that sees parenting as a shared responsibility, they need to witness that in need to see both parents carrying the bags, making the calls, doing the bedtime stories, and deciding what's for lunch. So yes, have a laugh at the mime video. But don't stop there. Use it as a mirror. Ask yourself: in this family, who's carrying the weight – physically, mentally, emotionally? And what can we do, together, to even the load? Because passenger parenting might be common. But that doesn't make it okay. And it definitely doesn't have to be permanent.
