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Show ALL NEW AT SEA WORLD heeSNES ROCKY POINT Dolphins And Sea Otters Frolic In Sea World’s Newest Attraction Sea World craftsmen have added the final touches to the San Diego park’s newest attraction, Rocky Point Preserve, a remarkable 700,000-gallon interactive display of bottlenose dolphins and Alaskasea otters. It consists of two separate marine mammal habitats: Dolphin Bay, two pools that will be hometo a group of bottlenose dolphins; and Otter Outlook, a display of Alaska sea otters brought to Sea World for veterinary care following the 1989 Prince William Sound oil spill. An interactive pool in Dolphin Baywill allow Sea World visitors to reach into the the species. water and touch the graceful ani- tom-built rocky habitat that will char- mals. The dolphins also may swim into an adjoining tidal pool featuring gentlyrolling waves created by a sophisticated surf generator. Visitors to Rocky Point Preserve may even participate in the ani- vee rg Uals’ daily feeding prosx gram. Trays of fish and se squid will be available for sale at intervals throughout the day. Underwater viewing galleries also will give visitors the feeling that * they are sharing the dolphins’ environment. Dolphinsand Alaskaseaotters willfrolic in their new Rocky Point Preserve home opening May 29 Underwater micro- A PEW THINGS.YOU REALLY OTTER KNOW ° Scacieesaeedandio dank. * Seaottersusually¢onot swimmore than.amileortwofrom shore. ans ° Alapahajnee billionhairsanitsbody. * Seauttershavenoskin may theonlyfurredanimalthat duesn’t. (Sotheyaren'tscratching fleaswhen they're theirfur) * Seaotiershaveno to keepthemwamn. ee xsetabolismtoproduceheat itcueicwak * Maleandfemaleotters usuallylivein. segregated groups. ° Gacecnaentdoatiatdltie daylighthours groomingtheirfur * Aseaotter’s coatisloose-fittinganda phones will allowvisitors to eavesdrop on dolphin conversations. The sea otters to be housed in Otter Outlook were flown to Sea World following the Valdez oil spill. The animals were successfully treated for exposure to crude oil and are now pait of a long-term studyof the toxic effects of oil on seaouterisextremelyflexible. This allowsa seaottertoreachandgroom allpartsofitsbody. * Aseaottereats 20% to 30%ofits body weightdaily—that’slikea 100-Ib. person eating 100quarier-pounderseveryday! * Sea otters areoneofthefewanimals thatusetools. c'When ollectingshellfish, hgerentpenta asa opentheirfood. Otter Outlook also features the cusacterize Rocky Point Preserve. A glass front wall at Otter Outlook will allow Sea World visitors to see thesea otters from both above and below the water's surface. Interactive attractions like Rocky Point Preserve are one of Sea World’s hallmarks. RockyPoint Preserve, the California Tide Pool and Forbidden Reef allow Sea World visitors the closest kind of contact with marine animals. |