CARLSBAD, Calif (April 14, 2011) – What could be more unpredictable than a cephalopod – they have been known to change colors in the blink of an eye, squeeze themselves through the tiniest opening and squirt ink when they get upset … so it should really be no surprise that the cephalopods at SEA LIFE™ Carlsbad Aquarium are refusing to move in to Octopus Garden in time for tomorrow’s scheduled opening.
Cephalopods are finicky creatures and are very sensitive to water and temperature conditions. Aquarists at SEA LIFE Aquarium have decided to give the water a few more days to reach ideal living conditions for the cuttlefish, nautilus and octopus that will be calling Octopus Garden Home.
Last week, SEA LIFE Aquarium launched the “Bye Bye Binky, Say Hello to Inky” campaign, inviting children to exchange their pacifiers for free admission to “Octopus Garden” on Friday, April 15. SEA LIFE will still honor that pledge – offering families up to four tickets in exchange for a pacifier, encouraging children to give up their pacifier habit to start a new habit of interacting with mysterious creatures of the deep. All guests who bring pacifiers to SEA LIFE on April 15 will also receive complimentary tickets to return once Octopus Garden opens.
Octopus Garden is an interactive exhibit introducing families to the amazing world of cephalopods. From octopus and cuttlefish to nautilus, these distinctive creatures have almost supernatural abilities including camouflage, ink clouds and jet propulsion to surprise and delight adults and children alike.
Pacifiers will be collected at the main entrance to the Aquarium and for every pacifier turned in by a child, that child will receive up to four complimentary SEA LIFE tickets to use that day to enjoy with their family. In keeping with the Aquarium’s pledge to be eco-friendly, all pacifiers collected on April 15 will be recycled.
MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS GROUP is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, 70 attractions, six hotels/two holiday villages in 16 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its more than 40 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 15,000 employees. Merlin Entertainments’ brands include – SEA LIFE – the world’s biggest aquarium brand; Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Tower Observatory and Skywalk, Sydney Wildlife World, Heide Park and Earth Explorer. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.