"Hello" to first residents of SEA LIFE Malaysia!

This morning, I’m at Legoland Malaysia Resort again to join a group of youngsters gathered to welcome the first residents into SEA LIFE Malaysia.

SEA LIFE Malaysia is rapidly taking shape here!

I read the words emblazoned on their bright blue T-shirts, “Be cool! Be a Junior Ranger!” and recognise them as the young ambassadors of SEA LIFE Malaysia.

As media representatives trickle into the event hall within the Legoland Hotel, I study the event programme and figured that we will be given a sneak peek into the work-in-progress site for SEA LIFE Malaysia.

The stacks of safety helmets, all ready for visitors to wear into the worksite, hints that we will be among the privileged people to enjoy the first peek into the newest addition to the park attractions.

A few words of welcome from Thila Munusamy,
Legoland Malaysia Resort, Director of Sales & Marketing

I watch as the youngsters jostle each other for a comfortable seat on the bench in front of me and observe their familiarity with each other as they exchange friendly banter.

Some parents are also at this special event as escorts for their Junior Ranger child.

I happen to sit next to a lady, who obviously is a parent, and seized the opportunity for a quick chat, just to learn how her child was selected to join the team of Junior Rangers.

Conservation lies at the heart of the SEA LIFE brand which embraces a strategy of Breed, Rescue and Protect (BRP) so it was wise of Legoland to educate and instill these values into youngsters through the Junior Rangers activities.

Junior Rangers being escorted into
the worksite for SEA LIFE Malaysia

The vision of SEA LIFE is to become the world’s biggest and most successful aquarium brand by putting the values of “Amazing Discoveries”, the SEA LIFE Trust and the BRP principles into the heart of all they are doing here.

Sitting with them, I share the excitement bubbling among the Junior Rangers as they wait (restlessly!) for the event programme to start.

I’m familiar with Legoland Malaysia Resort because I was here to witness it’s ground-breaking for construction in 2009 and on the first day when the park was specially opened to welcome media and guests in 2012, I was also here.

In 2018, I witnessed the ground-breaking event for SEA LIFE Malaysia and now in 2019, I am among the privileged to witness yet another important milestone in the park, in welcoming the first residents into SEA LIFE Malaysia!

It is indeed a very significant day for the park and the event kicks off with words of welcome from Legoland Malaysia Resort, Director of Sales & Marketing, Thila Munusamy.

SEA LIFE Malaysia Manager, Kristian Griffin,
answering curious questions from the Junior Rangers

Then it’s time for a safety briefing to prepare visitors before we enter the worksite for the SEA LIFE Malaysia to visit the Quarantine Zone and the Malaysian Rainforest Habitat Zone.

When completed, SEA LIFE Malaysia will feature 11 Habitat Zones with 13,000 marine creatures that include Singrays, Zebra Sharks, Black Tip Reef Sharks and seahorses.

The key habitat zones include the Malaysian Rainforest, Shoaling Ring, Rock Pools, Seahorses, Tropical Stingray Bay, Coral Reef, Jellies, Ocean View and the Ocean Tunnel.

The Ocean Tank, the biggest habitat zone in the aquarium with 400,000 litres of water, will feature a tunnel where visitors will be thrilled to watch as sharks, rays and other sea creatures swim around.

Kristian Griffin and Thila Munusamy with the
Junior Rangers in SEA LIFE Malaysia

The Malaysian Rainforest habitat zone will also feature marine creatures from the Johor River, the main river in the state of Johor.

In every habitat zone, there will be interactive elements to make the learning experience more impactful and memorable for visitors.

There will also be an interactive touch pool where children can get a fun and educational hands-on experience and interact with marine creatures.

To facilitate better management in the work-in-progress spaces, the media representatives and Junior Rangers are split into two groups.

With safety vests and safety helmets in place, we troop over to the site where SEA LIFE Malaysia is rapidly taking shape.

Very gently, this Junior Ranger releases the first fish into
the Malaysian Rainforest habitat zone

Escorted by SEA LIFE Malaysia Manager, Kristian Griffin, we are given a special Behind-the-Scenes peek into the Quarantine Zone where we catch a glimpse of the animal healthcare and food preparation areas for all the sea creatures.

Then it is time for the highlight of the day’s event: welcoming the first fish into SEA LIFE Malaysia.

Our group, along with the excited Junior Rangers, are ushered into the Malaysian Rainforest habitat zone where receptacles are prepared to gently transfer the first residents into the aquarium.

So one-by-one, the Junior Rangers take their turns to release the 23 species of fish including Bala Sharks, Rasboras and Tinfoil Barbs, into the Malaysian Rainforest habitat zone.

More fish join the shoal which makes up the first
residents in SEA LIFE Malaysia

The SEA LIFE aquarists have been working diligently to ensure that the water, health and safety of the marine creatures meet the required standards.

Once the first residents are accustomed to their new environments, the larger fishes like the stingrays and sharks, will be added into the aquarium in the coming weeks.

When SEA LIFE Malaysia opens for visitors, it will be the only SEA LIFE in the region that will combine the interactive aquarium concept with unique Lego elements.

This double-storey SEA LIFE aquarium is also conveniently located next to Legoland Malaysia Theme Park, Legoland Water Park and the Legoland Hotel.

To celebrate the launch of SEA LIFE Malaysia, Legoland Malaysia is offering MyKad holders an Early Bird promotion on its brand new annual pass for a limited time only.

For the price of a one-day combo ticket at RM263 for adults and RM209 for kids aged three to 11, Malaysians will receive an annual pass and have unlimited access all year round to Legoland Theme Park and Water Park.

Once SEA LIFE Malaysia opens in April 2019, these annual pass holders will also get free access to the aquarium.

The all-new annual pass is available for purchase at Legoland Malaysia Resort’s official website at https://www.legoland.com.my.

For more info on promotions and activities, visit Legoland Malaysia Resort’s official website: www.legoland.com.my and stay connected with the resort via Facebook and Instagram.