So for Mother's Day, we ended up at Theater of the Sea on Islamorada (FL Keys). Some of you might remember that one of the nurse pups I had was relocated there from the main display at the store. It's one of the original marine animal parks in the US, and has maintained the 'up close and personal' feel instead of going overboard with stunts and sale tactics. I love it. You don't get distracted, and get to see the animals up close in a natural setting. Most people will associate that name with the dolphin and sea lion programs they have (and public interactions with both types of animals). They also have a few very large groups of native FL/Carribean fish as well as a collection of Southern stingrays and Nurse sharks.
Rescently, they have expanded the public interactions to the shark program.
While there, I was asked to take and look and offer input. The only thing I could say was "Great work, keep it up!". There are five juvie nurse sharks. If you are ever in South FL and want to see a park that most would over look, you need to check it out.
My daughter, Jaden, tossing a ring to a sea lion.
Ok ok....sharks!
One of the main display pools, being hand fed during an educational talk from one of the husbandry staff.
The lagoon in the back of the park for shark interactions. TOS has a free (no additional charge) swimming beach loaded with native fish, the shark area and stingray areas are sectioned off, but right there as well.
Allowing themselves to be rolled over for physicals:
And of course, it wouldn't be me without a picture of my daughter in the water with sharks. She loves them.
At the swimming beach, the most visually striking thing was the school of parrotfish!
GoPro video underwater with them:
[YT]NDMfB5GdAmU&list=UUo8-sMPc-gdqKv_vQMaC8Wg[/YT]
Rescently, they have expanded the public interactions to the shark program.
While there, I was asked to take and look and offer input. The only thing I could say was "Great work, keep it up!". There are five juvie nurse sharks. If you are ever in South FL and want to see a park that most would over look, you need to check it out.
My daughter, Jaden, tossing a ring to a sea lion.
Ok ok....sharks!
One of the main display pools, being hand fed during an educational talk from one of the husbandry staff.
The lagoon in the back of the park for shark interactions. TOS has a free (no additional charge) swimming beach loaded with native fish, the shark area and stingray areas are sectioned off, but right there as well.
Allowing themselves to be rolled over for physicals:
And of course, it wouldn't be me without a picture of my daughter in the water with sharks. She loves them.
At the swimming beach, the most visually striking thing was the school of parrotfish!
GoPro video underwater with them:
[YT]NDMfB5GdAmU&list=UUo8-sMPc-gdqKv_vQMaC8Wg[/YT]
