Animal Care Facilities

To care for stranded animals, SeaWorld & Busch Gardens' Animal Care Centers are equipped with state-of-the-art tools, facilities, and equipment to provide the best possible care for ill or injured wildlife.

Laboratory

SeaWorld's labs are equipped with the latest automated instruments to perform laboratory tests on rescued animals. An automated hematology (blood) analyzer counts red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A laser beam counts and differentiates white blood cells.

To ensure that animal environments are healthy and clean, laboratory technologists test water from each animal pool every day.

A pharmacy holds antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and other medications as well as vitamins formulated for marine mammals, fishes, and birds.

Food preparation room

The food preparation room is outfitted with a freezer, thawing sinks, grinders, blenders, stomach tubes, and nursing bottles to accommodate animals requiring special diets, bottle feeding, or tube feeding.

Surgical suite

The surgical suite may include an x-ray machine, anesthesia equipment, a respirator unit, an ultrasound machine, and a surgery table.

Veterinarians sometimes also use specialized diagnostic equipment such as ultrasound machines and endoscopy equipment (scopes for seeing inside an animal's body).

Recovery areas

After treatment, the animals recover in appropriate holding pools and enclosures suited to their specific needs.

Animal Care Staff

Veterinarians diagnose and treat marine mammals, birds, and turtles. Medical technologists, animal care staff, aviculturists, and aquarists play key roles in restoring health to stranded animals.