True Love at Six Flags Great Adventure

In the air, in the water, and on land...there are some special animal (and human!) love stories at Six Flags Great Adventure.

Ever think about being with someone for, well, 80 years or so? That's the kind of bond that Eugene and Ariel have! We are talking about a stunning pair of blue and gold macaws, from the rainforests of Central and South America, who are monogamous by nature and mate for life. This loyal couple is not only madly in love, but they are both quite jealous

(Jessica and Dave with Eugene and Ariel, courtesy of Six Flags)

creatures!

Eugene clearly dislikes male trainers around Ariel, and although Ariel can be quite flirtatious with men, she can be rather rude to female trainers who get close to Eugene. (Sound familiar, lol?) The lovebirds are in their twenties, and with an average life span of 60 - 80 years, appear to have several decades of companionship still ahead of them.

You can see Eugene and Ariel on the Safari Off Road Adventure, beginning April 3rd, at Six Flags Great Adventure.

(Dichali and Kenobi, courtesy of Six Flags)

And speaking of love, you can also check out Kenobi and Dichali, California sea lions, who frequently snuggle up together and give each other kisses. Although sea lions are not monogamous by nature, these two have developed a strong bond and enjoy spending the majority of their time together. You can find them in the theme park's Fort independence arena at Six Flags beginning April 3rd.

Finally, with love in the air this Valentine's Day, it's only appropriate that two of the people that care for all of these great animals have been together for 19 years! Animal training supervisors David and Jessica Peranteau met when they were both marine animal trainers.They married in 2000 and have traveled the world working with land and marine mammals ranging from tiny hedgehogs to massive orcas.

The couple settled in NJ at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2004, and have developed thriving animal education programs in addition to nurturing and training more than 100 exotic animals, including hand-rearing capuchin monkeys, otters, lions and bears. Dave and Jessica have a five year old son, Noah, who knows that animals are part of their family. Noah even shares his birthday with the park's first-ever baby sea lion, Magoo, who was born June 25, 2014. Jessica says she feels like she has two children who were born on the same day!

For more info on the Six Flags Great Adventure upcoming season, CLICK HERE!