On July 18th, watch live as SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue Team returns four manatees to the waters of Eddy Creek in Brevard County, Fla. The four manatees had been receiving care at SeaWorld Orlando for the past few months and have been medically cleared for their return on July 18. Each manatee has been fitted with a satellite tag. This tag allows the FWC to monitor the animals' movements to ensure their success. Helping in the release are Canaveral National Seashore and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission team members. All manatee rescue footage produced by SeaWorld under FWS Permit Number MA7701911. Stay connected on all SeaWorld happenings by "liking" us on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/SeaWorld

• Food and merchandise exclusive to the event
• Character meet and greets themed like a pajama party
• Dance parties at Cinderella's Castle

Photo by Julie Scardina, Animal Ambassador for Sea World, Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens

That's not a painting, folks. That's a photo of a brand-new, days-old baby orca! Momma whale Katina gave birth on Sunday, October 10, 2010 to a bouncing -- err, well, swimming -- baby. Here's a fantastic Sea World video of what the birth was actually like:


video courtesy Sea World, via http://www.youtube.com/user/seaworld

Visitors to the park can view momma and baby (who has yet to be sexed or named -- I'll post when I know more) at Shamu Stadium; ask Guest Services (888-800-5447) for viewing hours each day. Once you're there, feel free to ask trainers questions about Katina and her new baby; both mom and calf are doing well. The calf is nursing a lot, learning her way around the tank (always close by mom) and quickly becoming a new favorite of both visitors and Sea World employees. Here's one more pic from Sea World before you head over to take a few of your own:

Graham Cracker Crust:*

¾ cup melted butter

1¼ cups graham cracker crumbs

3 egg yolks

¾ cup Key Lime juice**

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 280 degrees
2. Grease and paper an 8" springform cake pan or pie pan
   
3. Mix butter and graham cracker crumbs, then firmly press 2 cups of the crumb and butter mixture into the sides and bottom of the pan, with the edges slightly thicker than the center
4. In a separate bowl, mix the milk and egg until well blended.
5. Add lime juice to mixture
6. Pour the pie filling into the crust
7. Place cake pan in the oven in a water bath (cookie sheet holding water)
8. Bake at 280 degrees for 55 minute
9. Remove from pans while still warm but not hot
10. Chill for at least one hour, then garnish with whipped cream and serve

It’s common knowledge that dolphins are some of the most intelligent animals in the world; they can be trained to perform amazing tricks and tasks, and if size is any indicator, the simple fact that the adult bottlenose dolphin’s brain is 25% heavier than a human brain says a lot about how smart they are.

Since research on the dolphin mind is limited, though, scientists have never been able to make any conclusive claims about whether the animals are truly intelligent or not. However, the happy-go-lucky residents at SeaWorld Orlando are proving just how brainy they are with a new skill that they learned all on their own.

It’s been known for some time that dolphins are able to communicate with one another. However, what’s less commonly known is the fact that dolphins can apparently learn from one another; several of the dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando have demonstrated this ability by the fact that they now know how to blow beautiful underwater bubbles using their blowholes. And not only can they blow bubbles, but they can also manipulate and play with them. It’s an amazing and breathtaking thing to see, and the skill is getting a lot of attention from trainers, spectators, and media outlets alike.

“If you had a balloon at home and you flex and play with the end of it to make different sounds – [the dolphins] can do that with their blowhole…They angle their heads so that it comes up perfectly straight to create a ring,” said SeaWorld’s dolphin trainers.

What makes it all even more amazing is that a few years ago, only one dolphin had this bubble-making capability; apparently, however, that dolphin taught the others. Three months ago, the trainers noticed that many more of the animals had picked up the skill, and today, they can be seen blowing bubbles, elongating them or making them smaller, and even spinning them and swimming through them.

“It’s like a little halo at first and then they just push it and it gets smaller,” said a trainer. “They either take their rostrum or head and move it in a circle to make [the bubble] bigger.”

The dolphins even try to “steal” bubbles from one another, and one dolphin will pop his bubble creation if another dolphin tries to take it away – as if to say, “No, that’s my toy, you can’t take it.”

This amazing story has been featured on ABC News, and in response to the interest, SeaWorld even put out a new blog to keep up with dolphin news. But park fans and dolphin lovers can go in person and see the animals’ amazing talent for themselves at SeaWorld. There, in Dolphin Cove, the animals can be seen frolicking, blowing bubbles, and playing with them in the underwater viewing area.

So if you haven’t been to SeaWorld in a while, you’ll want to get your SeaWorld tickets from DWTickets.com in order to see this amazing dolphin skill. It’s an incredible sight to see, and who knows? You might even discover the secret of how they do it!