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Disney assists with successful rehabilitation and release of Manatee
nimal care experts from Walt Disney World Resort recently assisted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with the successful release of a 680-pound manatee named Plantaina at Blue Spring State Park, about 50 miles northeast of Walt Disney World Resort. Plantaina is a young female manatee who was rescued as a baby near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when she was found abandoned at less than a week old. She was just 28 pounds at the time, making her the smallest manatee ever rescued. After a successful initial rehab, Plantaina was released back into the wild last month (February 2021). However, she was soon discovered to be losing weight which required another rescue and rehabilitation before coming to The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT, where 24 other manatees have been rehabilitated over the years.
“Manatees are an iconic species in Florida, and their conservation impacts all of us” said veterinarian Scott Terrell, DVM, and director of animal and science operations at Walt Disney World Resort. “Caring for these amazing creatures’ benefits all of the animals that live in their coastal habitats and the human communities around them.”
Through collaboration with other rehabilitation facilities over the years – as part of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) – Disney animal care experts provide ill and injured manatees with the stable, controlled environment they need to make a recovery and prepare for release. The manatees receive exceptional veterinary care including preventive health exams, a calorie-rich diet and around-the-clock monitoring to help them return to the wild when they are fit. Once released, some manatees like Plaintaina are assigned a satellite tracker that enables experts to continue to monitor the animal’s health, migration and socialisation with other manatees. These satellite trackers are designed to break
Tornado Springs opens TAIT to acquire Thinkwell
Danish theming firm MK Themed Attractions assisted UK family park Paultons Park in getting its brand-new themed area, Tornado Springs, ready for 12 April by producing and delivering customised props for the entire area.
and experiences, all with a heavy Midwestern US theme. The majority of the themed elements were produced and delivered by MK Themed Attractions. Guests will be immersed in the new area completed with themed signs, props, objects, and coasters, all telling the unique story of Tornado Springs.
to say that it has been a pleasure working with Paultons Park. From the very beginning the visions and ambitions Paultons Park had sounded exciting, and a project we at MK Themed Attractions have loved being a part of. We look forward to seeing the impression the new area Operations director at Paultons
are so pleased to finally open the park and welcome guests to explore Tornado Springs, our largest single investment here at Paultons Park. We wanted to introduce a spectacular and immersive themed area
TAIT, the global group of creative engineers, fabricators, producers, and technologists for live entertainment environments has agreed to acquire Thinkwell Group, a global strategy, experience design, and production agency specialising in the master planning, design, and production of “world-class” guest experiences for theme parks, museums and brands. Thinkwell will join the TAIT Group, comprised of a roster of unparalleled innovators, to set a new standard for the live and location-based entertainment industry, positioning
TAIT as the most comprehensive end-to-end developer of entertainment and experiences.
With complementary culture and skillsets in experiential design and client management, the partnership is said to offer a unique opportunity for both companies to achieve significant, sustained growth. The acquisition will allow TAIT to build off the momentum of the recent ITEC Entertainment acquisition, boosting capabilities in creative design, including media and interactives, along with exposure to major location-based entertainment projects.
“For decades, our incredibly talented teams have created some of the most engaging and dynamic experiences for brands and IPs around the world,” said Joe Zenas, CEO, Thinkwell Group. “The combination of Thinkwell’s world-class talent and extraordinary project portfolio with TAIT’s ambitious vision and shared commitment is a natural progression to expand the global footprint and broaden the reach of both companies.”
F SPRING PART 1 2022
and tourist park. Dreamworld is excited to announce that it
“Thinkwell’s trusted reputation, exceptional talent and extensive portfolio are valued by all of us at TAIT,” said Adam Davis, CEO, the TAIT Group. “Together we will usher in a new era of live and location-based entertainment for the industry.”
has entered into an agreement with experienced accommodation developer Evolution Group to fund and build an accommodation precinct on part of the surplus land owned by Ardent Leisure adjacent to the Dreamworld park. The accommodation offering will include a 4-star 250-room resort-style hotel, 40 bungalows and a 5-star tourist park with 100 powered sites. Dreamworld Resort will be designed to cater to all guests, especially interstate travellers, with a broad range of family friendly accommodation options, as well as restaurants, conferencing facilities and leisure facilities such as swimming pools and a gymnasium. Guests of Dreamworld Resort will also have exclusive
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Dreamworld resort hotel
uture Dreamworld guests will be able to stay and play, with plans underway for a new $75 million Dreamworld Resort including a resort-style hotel
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away if they become entangled in order to prioritise the health of the manatee. Plantaina is one of six manatees to complete rehabilitation at Walt Disney World Resort over the last year. Manatees in rehabilitation at Disney may receive up to 150 heads of romaine lettuce each day depending on their individual needs, along with the occasional treat of apples, carrots and sweet potatoes, to help them return to their natural weight before they are able to be released. In addition to the releases, the Disney Conservation Fund has provided grants to more than 15 nonprofit organisations to better understand manatee populations, biology and habitat use, aid in the restoration of seagrass, and provide care for manatees.
These manatee releases, along with funding from the Disney Conservation Fund and knowledge and expertise from Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment, help make a difference in the conservation of this amazing species.
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