SeaWorld Exhibit at the Trade Show

My new best friend - Dunder, the otter

I’m just now catching my breath from spending the last few days at the Trade Show – the Travel Retailing and Destination Expo held here in Orlando. It was huge, informative, and a lot of fun. Over the next few days I’ll post about my interview there with Travel Channel maven Samantha Brown (who is just as nice as she seems on TV – no really!), as well as the many Florida travel destinations showcasing their attractions, upcoming new construction around the area from the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Saturday night’s gala black-tie World Travel Awards Ceremony – held as a special pre-show event for The Trade Show.

But today’s post is all about the animals showcased at SeaWorld‘s trade show booth. First of all, I have to admit that I am a HUGE animal lover with my absolute favorite being otters. So imagine my surprise when I heard a man behind me ask, “Do you like otters?” as I was wandering around the various exhibits. When I turned around, I became what can only be described as crazy excited to see a smiling SeaWorld worker holding a beautiful Asian river otter named Boris. The next 10 minutes are still kind of a blur as I watched Boris and his brother Dunder play together & chase ice cubes on top of a table in front of a growing crowd of equally mesmerized onlookers.

Boris doing what otters do best - being cute!

Over the next two days, I kept coming back by SeaWorld’s exhibit area where they continually showcased different animals, gave informative talks, and patiently answered any and all questions. I personally got to meet a very sweet two-toed sloth named Starr (who never stopped staring at the ceiling), a lizard that I discovered was actually an Argentine black and white tegu that doesn’t have a name yet – though I heard one trainer affectionately call her Evita, a loud and vibrant Kookabura named Merlyn, and a very large Albino Burmese python named Cleopatra. One handler jokingly said that for five dollars he’d let me hold her. And of course I replied that for five dollars, I’d pay him to NOT make me hold her!

Starr and SeaWorld handler.

SeaWorld handler & Tegu.

Merlyn the Kookabura, SeaWorld handler, and me.

Clepotra with 3 handlers.

Paulie & me. Notice finger on wrist about to get munched!

And then there was a beautiful sulphur-crested Cockatoo named Paulie that I was allowed to hold. Paulie was talkative, friendly, and very flirty — until just after the second photo was taken. I noticed him looking hard at one of my fingers, but before I could move, he reached over and gave me a small bite! I know it looked like “finger food” to him, so I didn’t hold it against him. Besides, who can stay mad at a primping bird that seems to be smiling as he repeatedly says, “Talk to Paulie. Pretty Paulie.”

Overall, the exhibit reminded me just how wonderful the SeaWorld parks are and how close guests can get to their many animals. If you want true interactive experiences with live majestic animals, SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove are true gems. And though I haven’t been to their new Aquatica waterpark attraction yet, it’s on my upcoming agenda!

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