See kid high-five an alligator and other cute moments at Sacramento hospital visit
Sacramento Bee staff
Animal handlers with SeaWorld brought cuddly cuteness — with some exceptions — to young patients at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento on Thursday, with bedside visits from a kangaroo, a sloth, an alligator and more.
The visit was part of SeaWorld’s effort to educate children about wildlife conservation with rescued animals.
“A lot of the animals are part of the illegal trade industry in pets and exotic animals,” said SeaWorld education manager Mike Dunn. “The sloth that we currently have was confiscated by Fish and Wildlife because someone was trying to sell it illegally.”
A sloth that was rescued from a private trader eats corn from a handler on Thursday as rescued animals from the SeaWorld education and conservation program visit Sutter Hospital in midtown Sacramento. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com
Five-year-old Max Guerra, a Sacramento patient at Sutter Hospital in midtown, pets Spike the alligator on Thursday, May 30, 2024. “His best thing that he can do is sit still,” said hander David Jackson, who brought exotic rescue animals to meet children as part of SeaWorld’s effort to educate children about wildlife conservation. Other animals making an appearance included a sloth, a kangaroo and an owl. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com
Boo, a western screech owl, looks around at patients and staff at Sutter Hospital in midtown Sacramento on Thursday as animals from the SeaWorld education and conservation program visit. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com
Sutter Hospital patient Zachary Langum, 15, of Escalon, holds a snake on Thursday as animals from the SeaWorld education and conservation program visit the midtown Sacramento hospital. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com
A young alligator held by handler David Jackson “waves” to a patient at Sutter Hospital in midtown Sacramento on Thursday. The event was part of the SeaWorld education and conservation program. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com
An eight-month-old kangaroo is pet by a patient at Sutter Hospital in midtown Sacramento on Thursday. The rescue animals are from the SeaWorld education and conservation program. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com
This story was originally published May 31, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
