Did you know that all species of sea turtles are either threatened or endangered? An especially critical time for these amazing animals is nesting season, which officially starts today in Florida, and lasts until Oct. 31.

The countdown is finally over, and the all-new TurtleTrek is NOW OPEN!

TurtleTrek, opening April 27 at SeaWorld Orlando, will be home to two species of adult and juvenile sea turtles, as well as four Florida manatees and a stunning variety of tropical and native fish.

Currently, I help supervise the Animal Ambassador Team (AAT) at SeaWorld Orlando. This is an area of the training department that many of you may not realize exists, but you’ve probably seen in action. You may have interacted with the animals at the SeaGarden, attend a school where we’ve made an educational visit, or seen animals on one of our many appearances on TV.

Earlier this morning, members of the SeaWorld Orlando animal rescue team returned a rehabilitated, sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle back into the waters of the Canaveral National Sea Shore in Titusville, Fla. This is the fifth turtle returned in 2012.

We’re excited to give our fans a special glimpse of the new Freshwater Oasis opening at Discovery Cove later this spring!

At the Freshwater Oasis you’ll be able wade, relax and come face-to-face with playful otters and curious marmosets. Designed with a rainforest canopy above and sparkling-clear springs below, Freshwater Oasis is a natural fit within Discovery Cove’s tropical atmosphere. No matter where you turn, you’ll find endless discoveries.

As the year comes to an end, we wanted to take a look back at one of the more memorable moments of 2011 – the opening of The Grand Reef at Discovery Cove. With all the exciting things that happened this past year, we can’t wait for the new attractions on the horizon in 2012. Cheers to a new year!