SeaWorld opens up the secrets of the deep

JAKARTA (JP): SeaWorld Indonesia, the operator of Indonesia's only oceanographic acrylic tunnel aquarium, is offering free tickets for Indonesia's best students to observe and study marine life.

"SeaWorld is providing free tickets to students with great grades," SeaWorld executive director Arief Wiriadinata said at a media conference on Tuesday.

"We'll maintain our marine educational programs in order to help provide and share knowledge on marine life."

He said students ranked first, second and third in their classes could simply show their school report cards at the entrance gate.

SeaWorld marketing manager Felicia Desiree Zecha said the free admission program was first introduced in June last year. The second was held in October, also last year.

"This time, the program will last until the end of November," she told The Jakarta Post..

"A 25 percent discount on admission is also given to the student's chaperon," she said.

Outreach program

Arief said SeaWorld had an outreach program held outdoors, which gives an opportunity for students to learn more in sea conservation and resources by doing handicrafts and games.

"The program is held at schools around Jakarta, especially in fishermen villages, such as in Pulau Seribu (Thousand Island marine resort) and the Karimun Jawa chain of islands," he said.

Nugroho Agung, head of SeaWorld's education department, said they also had a club for elementary school students who were interested in natural conservation and resources.

"Klub Si Woli was established in 1996. It has several activities, indoor and outdoor," he said.

"We have visited several islands off Jakarta, for instance, to observe birds or release trapped tortoises."

He said the educational unit also provided practical guides and information on SeaWorld's collection of sea life to all visitors.

"This unit also provides free worksheets for students who come in groups," he said.

Arief said SeaWorld would try to maintain its programs despite the economic crisis, which had slowed business.

"We recorded 546,000 visitors in 1998, only half of the total in 1997," he told reporters.

Jakarta has two large public aquariums. SeaWorld is the first of its kind and focuses on ocean life. The other is in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in East Jakarta, which focuses on freshwater fish.

"Currently, SeaWorld Indonesia has more than 200 species with more than 4,000 collections, mostly from Indonesia's own waters," Nugroho said.

"Of all the species we have, only about 30 are freshwater. The rest are from the sea." (05)