Large Zoology Department Cuts in 2015

[Nicole]

I doesn't make any sense whatsoever to me to compare cutting a single show in a neglected water park with massive cuts of an entire department, which also happens to support a major corporate mission. It is apples and oranges.

Zoology is central to the SEAS mission and identity. A dive show, regardless of whether people like it, isn't.

Cutting zoo is even more disgusting to me, because they continue to fund massive, pointless summer events and new shows. Instead of keeping the shows they had and cutting Porno Nights, they spent money on ROTB and expanded the summer event. Basically, they bailed themselves out at the expense of a department that supports conservation.

 

[WasabiDragon]

I doesn't make any sense whatsoever to me to compare cutting a single show in a neglected water park with massive cuts of an entire department, which also happens to support a major corporate mission.  It is apples and oranges.

Zoology is central to the SEAS mission and identity.  A dive show, regardless of whether people like it, isn't.

Cutting zoo is even more disgusting to me, because they continue to fund massive, pointless summer events and new shows.  Instead of keeping the shows they had and cutting Porno Nights, they spent money on ROTB and expanded the summer event.  Basically, they bailed themselves out at the expense of a department that supports conservation.

Exactly. I could care less about the summer events, especially that star spangled mess last year. BGW is all about the experience for me and the zoology is a major part. It's a real shame.

 

[Jesy]

I visited the park on Friday, July 10 and saw the serval, Mtoro, in the Wild Reserve. My son said he saw the African porcupine there a few days earlier. I wonder if these animals are at BGW to stay or just haven't been 're-purposed' to other zoos yet.

 

[Nicole]

The porcupine winters in Tampa. So, it is essentially shared between the two parks now, it seems.

Honestly, it seemed a lot happier, when I saw it in Tampa.

 

[CastleOSullivan]

Tampa is top-notch in just about every aspect when it comes to animal care. All of our primary animals in Williamsburg also receive a great amount of care. We just don't have the facilities on property to do all that they can do. We don't have a full-blown animal hospital on-site.

Aside from the wolves and eagles, the only other animals we have are farm animals. However, that is much more simple for them to handle. That's part of why those particular animals are so close to us in everyday life.

I would love to see Williamsburg be able to have a more diverse selection of animals. They could have decided to send more exotic animals to us without having the same high-grade facilities as our sister parks. The fact that they didn't shows just how much they care about the well-being of their animals. Showing off animals is obviously a big part of SeaWorld Parks, but they try very hard (and do a good job) by not doing so at the cost of the animals' well-being.

One recent example of something that didn't go any further, is the penguins. The penguins obviously didn't have as much room as usual (IE:at their parks) while on display. During non-operating hours, however, they were free to roam in a much larger space. It was a mess (literally), but they were not as "fun-deprived" as it seemed like they were. Nevertheless, they still decided to change it. I think it will be a good change for all involved.

 

[Peej1212]

I dont know much about the behind the scenes animals. But my husband and I love going to see the birds and wolves and clydesdales. I would have always liked to see more animals but we know now that is not going to happen . I really hope that they ones not going to Seas properties are being well cared for. My primary concern is the care of the animals over my dislike that they dont have many there anymore. I just really hope the moves havent done alot of damage to the animals.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

I think the removal of animals has been beneficiary to the animals who have stayed at the park. The last couple of years I felt that the Zoology department was in over their heads. They had a large number of animals, with a small workforce and were absent of materials that other SEAS parks had(see: on site hospital and veterinary staff). I think because of this the staff had too much on its hands to deal with, they had behind the scenes animals who were taking up a lot of their time, who they practically never got to show to the public. So instead of being out there taking care of the animals that were on display and educating guests, they had a lot of time devoted to animals behind the scenes that the public never got to see.

But now, there is a lower number of animals at the park, specifically behind the scenes, and Zachary has mentioned it before, but I have never seen so much of a focus on animals and education about them inside the park until this year. The staff seems to have more time with each individual animal, and I think both of them are benefitting from it.

This year I've seen more zoology staff out and educating people about the animals than ever before, which is something I extremely care about. The Conservation Station has been full with animals almost everytime I've visited the park, which I can guarantee you never happened to me in the past. I have seen things like a zoology department staff member walking around with a snake in Banbury Cross, letting people see it, touch it, and learn about it. Heck, the zoology department even came to Tempesto's Grand Opening with a Harris Hawk. The amount of commitment this year to the animals and education for guests is something I've never seen before at BGW.

The loss of animals is quite a shame, and I hope they are all doing well where they are now, but I think loosening the load on the zoology department was a good and unforeseen consequence.

 

[Peej1212]

Thanks Matthew for that information.^_^ I havent been to the park recently so i havent gotten to see the things you are describing. But i am soo happy to hear that the animals that remain are getting more attention and care(not that they didnt do well before). It makes me glad to see that despite the disappointing cuts something good is coming from it as well.

 

[Nicole]

I know that as someone who usually gets a cabana, I spend a lot more time in the Wild Reserve than most, but from my perspective, I have NOT seen an increase in the time or numbers of animals on display. I have certainly seen a much smaller variety, however.

In my opinion the correct solution to the problem was not to get rid of the existing animals, many of whom did rotate through the Wild Reserve throughout the day, but to increase the staff and facilities. In other words, I think BGW should have increased resources against something they claim to care about: conservation, instead of cutting Zoo budgets and reducing their responsibilities.

 

[Peej1212]

In my opinion the correct solution to the problem was not to get rid of the existing animals, many of whom did rotate through the Wild Reserve throughout the day, but to increase the staff and facilities.  In other words, I think BGW should have increased resources against something they claim to care about: conservation, instead of cutting Zoo budgets and reducing their responsibilities.

Just a question Was the staff and facilites under staffed and inadequate (facilities wise)?I know seas pride themselves on teaching, research and conservation. It just makes me wonder why they would take money from the one section that really shows the company's mission statement.

 

[Nicole]

Many people have wondered the same thing. Having no insight into their strategic planning and budgeting process, I would not venture a guess. I do know that they have spent a lot of money on things that some of us might consider superfluous.

 

[jonfin826]

Animals I have encountered at Busch Gardens: Wolves. Sheep. Dogs. Eagles. Some crazy looking cows. Turtles. Pet Shenanigans. MORE Pet Shenanigans.

EDIT: How on earth do I forget horses, that's like the big thing