Discovery Cove Is a Wild Place to Celebrate Moms

Orlando, Florida (May 10, 2018) – With Mother’s Day just around the corner, Orlando-based Discovery Cove is pleased to report that two of the park’s small mammal “moms” have recently welcomed new additions: a Brazilian three-banded armadillo pup and a bleeding heart chick, both of which will soon be available to visit with guests of the day resort. In February, an armadillo named Clementine welcomed her fourth pup. This “little” guy tripled his birth weight in just two and half weeks and will be full grown at about six months. At birth, this species of armadillo has soft armor but well-developed claws, so the tiny pup could roll into a ball within hours of birth. Clementine is one of the busiest moms at Discovery Cove, having already raised three healthy pups to adulthood. Guests can expect to interact with Clementine and her bundle of joy at the park’s Conservation Cabana in the coming months, along with other fascinating members of the park’s small mammals collection. Another proud small-mammal mama is Lorraine, the matriarch of the Geoffroy marmoset family that lives on Marmoset Island in the Freshwater Oasis with six of her offspring. Mammals aren’t the only moms at Discovery Cove. Right around Valentine’s Day – appropriately enough – a pair of bleeding heart doves welcomed a new chick. The species’ most striking feature is a deep red patch of feathers located right in the center of their chest; this signature marking is what gives the birds their interesting name. The new chick hasn’t fully grown into this prominent feature quite yet, but there’s a wisp of pink peeking through its feathers. For a glimpse of the bleeding heart doves, visitors must venture beyond the beaches and waterfalls of Discovery Cove to the Explorer’s Aviary, which is home to hundreds of colorful birds from five continents. Guests can interact with the feathered residents by dishing out some of the birds’ favorite treats, and many may land right on visitors’ arms to nibble at the food. Aside from being adorable, Discovery Cove’s newest additions are also very important to their respective species. Three-banded armadillos and bleeding heart doves are both part of the Species Survival Plan (also known as the SSP program), because each of these species faces threats in the wild from habitat loss caused by humans. The SSP program was developed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a network of zoological facilities that has been helping species that are threatened in their natural environment by maintaining healthy and genetically diverse animal populations under human care. Discovery Cove is a proud participant in the program, and the two new arrivals are a testament to the success of the Species Survival Plan. Discovery Cove is a paradise of rocky lagoons, tropical reefs, winding rivers, and pristine white-sand beaches in a lushly landscaped park that feels more like a secluded island than an easily accessible attraction in America’s vacation capital. It’s a great place to spend Mother’s Day, because Mom can kick back and relax in a hammock, face her fears by feeding rays or swimming with sharks, or get a “kiss” from a friendly dolphin. The best part about a visit to Discovery Cove is that you just bring yourself, ready for a day of fun; you get to leave any stress behind – and what mom wouldn’t welcome that? A day’s admission at this all-inclusive day resort includes breakfast and lunch, unlimited beverages and snacks, lockers, animal-safe sunscreen, snorkel gear, and parking. In addition, guests get unlimited admission to SeaWorld and Aquatica for 14 consecutive days around their Discovery Cove reservation. Discovery Cove only admits 1,300 guests each day, which means not everybody and their mother will be there. There’s room for you and YOUR mom, though, so make a reservation now – perhaps for Mother’s Day 2019 – by visiting www.discoverycove.com. ###

MEDIA CONTACT Sara Martin Mindy Bianca Public Relations [email protected]