MARINELAND
LETS KIDS SEE WHALES UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
While visiting Niagara Falls, Ontario to complete the
travel article for www.hotelfun4kids.com
called "A KID’S EYE VIEW OF NIAGARA FALLS IN MORE
WAYS THAN ONE, we were fortunate enough to be allowed to
view the Killer Whales and Beluga Whales at Friendship Cove.
One question we had for the trainers, who so graciously
allowed us to help feed the inhabitants, was "WHAT DO
THE WHALES DO IN THE WINTER?"
When I first mentioned to my sons that we would be going
to Niagara Falls to prepare an article for the website,
their first request was "Can we go to Marineland?".
My initial answer was "No, I’m sorry but they are
closed in the winter.". All I heard after that was one
big "Why?".
It seems that Marineland is a popular place for kids and
the lure of being able to get close to the magnificent Killer Whales and the beautiful Beluga Whales is more than
any kid can resist. We were curious to get a good look at
Friendship Cove. We wondered what it was like to visit and
touch these magnificent creatures, what the whales did in
the off season and why they weren’t open in winter. Well
Marineland gave us the answers to our questions first hand.
Friendship cove is the largest facility of its kind and
the only one where you can actually touch a Beluga or Killer
Whale. There are three separate pools for the whales, two of
which have viewing from down below directly into the pools.
Beluga Whales, which are gray when they are born and turn
white later, were in the first pool.
When we visited the
cove, two of the younger female gray Belugas decided to
carry on a conversation with my older son. Sounds went back
and forth between these youngsters as if they were children
at a playground. It was quite amazing to see how they
responded to the human interaction. Beluga Whales are less
aggressive and much smaller than the Killer Whales. The
trainer told us that they are very gentle and playful
animals and he always enjoys his time in the water with
them. Unlike the Killer Whales, Belugas can turn their heads
sideways and nod their head without turning their whole
body, allowing them to appear more humanlike when you watch
them swim and play.
A ledge around the pool allows the
trainers to feed and bring the whales close to visitors were
children are able to touch the Whales, which they really
appear to enjoy. A Beluga feels like soft smooth rubber.
Watching them swim through the underwater window, you can’t
help but marvel at the grace and beauty they possess.
When we first arrived at the cove,
we were lucky to see
Kandu in all his glory close up at the underwater viewing
area. He seemed excited to have guests and moved towards the
kids, opening and closing his mouth providing an excellent
view of his large teeth. You don’t realize how big these
animals are until you get so close to them. Kandu followed
the children from one side of the glass to the other moving
up and down as if to get a better view of his visitors.
Feeding time arrived and the trainers called the Killer
Whales, which are actually a member of the Dolphin family, over
to the ledges for their meal of mackerel, squid
and herring. Trainers split up the whales at feeding time,
with Kandu occupying one area, the two youngest whales with
one trainer and each of the other whales with a trainer. We
were told that during the winter months, feeding time
is
used as an opportunity to interact with the whales and work
on the skills that are needed during the summer months when
the whales perform both at the King Waldorf Theater and at
Friendship Cove.
The Killer Whales are brought over to the ledge and after
having a bit of a meal, come up above the water to permit
children to pat them and get a first hand look at the blow
holes, peer into their eyes and see large teeth as the Orcas
opened and closed their mouths. These mammals swallow the
fish whole, with their teeth serving the purpose of catching
prey – no chewing before they swallow. While the Beluga
has the feel of soft rubber, these whales, though just as
smooth, feel much firmer to the touch. After feeding, we
were treated to a display of the whales’ ability to leap
into the air, tandem jumps, back flips and vertical
jumps.
During these feats, water splashes everywhere as these
powerful creatures fly both in and out of the water.
During the summer people flock to the beaching area at
Friendship Cove to pat these whales and the winter months
provide the opportunity to train the younger members. The
trainers must learn to judge the whale’s moods and gage
the mammal’s stress level during their interaction with
the public. At all times the safety of the whales and the
general public must be considered by the trainers, with the
activities at Friendship Cove taking this into account.
This brings us to the question of why Marineland isn’t
open in the winter as these creatures prefer the colder
water, which doesn’t freeze because of the salt content
and the constant flow. Well, up until now most of the
attractions at Marineland have been geared to be enjoyed
outdoors during milder weather but that is about to change.
Marineland’s owner and founder, John Holer has embarked
on the construction of a brand new 20 acre aquarium complex
that will be open year round. This new area will have 3
separate aquariums, each containing 1 million gallons of
water and a new 2 million gallon pool for the Beluga Whales
that will be similar to Friendship Cove and will be named
Arctic Cove. Features of this new attraction include:
- Shark Encounter which will house various kinds of sharks,
stingrays and other ocean creatures
- An aquarium housing an ocean reef showcasing exotic
marine species found in the Caribbean.
- A fresh water fish pool with life from around the world.
- Visitors will be able to view the new facility from
below, through acrylic tunnels via a boat ride or side views
through acrylic panels and from above.
- People will be able to interact with some sea life at
special contact areas.
- A new wilderness adventure ride and train are also part
of this new development.
The ground for this new facility was broken in November
of 2000, with Shark Encounter and Arctic Cove scheduled for
completion for the 2002 season. The remainder of the
attraction should be ready by the 2003 season.
We can’t wait to see these new and innovative ways to
experience the wonders of the sea and look forward to
visiting Marineland again to include information on these
new facilities on www.hotelfun4kids.com.
Please visit again for an update to this article sometime
in 2002 or visit www.marinelandcanada.com
for more information on the other attractions and facilities
Marineland Theme Park has to offer.
For more travel news on Niagara Falls see :
A Kid's Eye View of
Niagara Falls in More Ways than One
(Butterfly).
For information on Hotel Fun 4 Kidsä
rated Destinations go to Southwestern Ontario Hotels and Resorts
For more information on other Family Attractions in
Niagara Falls go to Southwestern Ontario Family Attractions
|
Click Here for Holiday Inn Hotels
To view Amusement Park Tips Click Below:
See the following sections for more information on
Travel in Ontario:
For Travel News Click Below:
A Kid's Eye View of Niagara Falls in More Ways than
One
To view Hotel/Resort
Destinations in Ontario Click Below:
To view
Family Attractions in
Ontario Click Below:
To view Ski Resorts in Ontario Click
Below:
To view Travel News about Ontario Click
Below:
To return to Travel News
on Destinations Below:
Also Visit these other sections of
Travel News:
To view Travel News about Hotels and
Resorts Click Below:
To view Travel News about Family
Attractions Click Below:
To view Travel News about Ski Resorts
Click Below:
To view Travel News about Kid Friendly
Airlines Click Below:
To view Travel News about Safety Click
Below:
Travel
News - Safety
Click Below to Return to
|