138storytellers from CNN Academy Abu Dhabi, including 95international students visiting Abu Dhabi for the first time, were guided to a tour of the Yas SeaWorld® Research & Rescue Center and SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi including the Marine Life Theme Park’s Animal Care Center. The CNN Academy Abu Dhabi journalists hailed from the USA, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Ireland and Iraqi Kurdistan in addition to 45 participants from the Abu Dhabi cohort.
The 4th cycle of CNN Academy Abu Dhabi, a training program that began in September, brought participants from CNN Academy worldwide together for intensive training on different subjects. The four months program aims to equip emerging journalists with the essential skills needed in today’s media landscape, emphasizing the integration of AI into journalism practices.
The group enjoyed a tour of The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center’s facility, where they learned about the day-to-day tasks of the expert zoological and rescue teams and how injured animals are being rehabilitated and released back to their natural habitat. The Center maintains a rescue team available around the clock, 365 days a year where they recently rescued, rehabilitated and returned five sea turtles, a sea snake and an injured bird back to their natural habitats. Led by marine conservationists and ecologists, the Center also conducts advanced research on several marine topics including seagrass cultivation, indigenous Arabian Gulf marine life and ecosystems. It has partnered with institutions like New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) for joint research projects on local marine species and coral bleaching.
Rob Yordi, General Curator at SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, said, “Weare delighted to welcome a cohort from CNN Academy Abu Dhabi for the second year running. These bright young minds will be the leading voices in the media in the years to come. We hope that giving participants a glimpse into our facilities will encourage reporting on environmental issues and influence the community to support our marine conservation efforts at The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center.”
Following the Center’s tour,the group walked towards SeaWorld Abu Dhabi where they were guided by one of the educators as they explored the World’s Largest Indoor Marine Life Theme Park’s eight immersive realms and its “One Ocean” story. The group then toured SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s Animal Care Center where they witnessed real-time animal health checks and medical treatments performed by animal care specialists.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center have recently earned the esteemed Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accreditation alongside being the region’s first facility to be certified by Global Humane, the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare. These revered accreditations are testament to SeaWorld’s over 60 years of experience and knowledge in animal care, rescue, rehabilitation and conservation that is now brought to the UAE and wider region.With every ticket purchase, guests visiting SeaWorld Abu Dhabi also contribute to the conservation efforts of the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center as part of the “Admission with a Mission” initiative.
To find out more about the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center’s research, education and rescue programs and to book a guided tour, please visit https://www.seaworldabudhabi.com/en/research-and-rescue.