Instead of a narrated training session, we got to watch the orcas get enrichment in the form of this puzzle feeder! It's a large ball with many holes and stuffed with ice and fish.
Although they can't reach into the ball, orcas are capable of using suction feeding and knocking the puzzle feeder to get those prizes out. In the wild, suction feeding helps that catch prey that are just a few feet out of their grasp. They were also great about sharing! See below for highlights:
PS: These take forever to fill completely and your hands get extremely cold touching the ice and cold fish so kudos to whoever did that for the whales!
0:16 The puzzle feeder goes into the water. The three whales are all over it
0:57 A good shot of Nalani pushing the ball closer this way
1:40 Katina gets some ice/fish at the surface after knocking them out of the ball (thumbnail)
2:04 Malia lifts the ball, and you can see how heavy it is
2:47 Their trainers ask them to bring the ball back
3:04 They try to give it back a couple times but it rolls back
3:18 Malia does....something and surfaces erratically. Somewhere between here and the next highlight, they decide they're not done with it yet
4:10 Something happens underwater and it's clear they won't give back the ball just yet! They do I'd say maybe 4 minutes after the video cuts
Malia, Nalani, and Katina (Killer Whales) at SeaWorld Orlando on February 2, 2024.
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12 сен 2024
