Dallas World Aquarium » Dallas World Aquarium

okapikpr · **Dallas World Aquarium** 16-05-2008

The Dallas World Aquarium plans to reintroduce Orinoco Crocodiles. The following is from the US Federal Register:

Quote:

The applicant requests a permit to export fifty seven female
captive-born Orinoco crocodiles (Crocodylus intermedius) to Venezuela
for the purpose of enhancement of the species through re-introduction
into the wild and conservation education.

jwer · 17-05-2008

Sounds good, this aquarium has a very interesting collection. I heared that one of their elderly pair of giant river otters recently passed away, does anyone know if that's correct?

And if so, are there any plans to introduce the remaining animal to one of the Philly Zoo youngsters?

kiang · 17-05-2008

Does the aquarium still have shoebill stork?

okapikpr · 17-05-2008

@ jwer: Im pretty sure Dallas still has both of their giant otters who arent all that old? (10 and 9 yrs of age). But Miami lost one of their males last year. I hope Philly's otter pups get a chance to go out in the zoo world in breed. Three of their males are now at Jacksonville Zoo.

@Kiang: I dont think they ever had shoebill storks. They focus on Neotropical species, but they do have an area with african penguins, hyrax, porcupine, and hornbill.

kiang · 17-05-2008

There is a listing on ISIS for 0.1 at the aquarium, but we know how accurate ISIS can be

okapikpr · 17-05-2008

My apologizes Kiang...but it appears that you and ISIS are right! Dallas World Aquarium has a poor website, but after some time on it...I found something! They built a second floor addition to their african area with a shoebill stork and turacos. Other new additions include tree kangaroos and two-toed sloths (they currently have the 3 toed variety).

Quote:

Dear Members,

This issue focuses on the "happenings" at The Dallas World Aquarium intended to help make your visits more enjoyable and educational. Some of the renovations are noticeable at the second and third levels of the aquarium where areas have been widened to allow for easier access to the elevator and/or escalator. The new Jungle Jewels exhibit at the upper level entrance into the rainforest is a very colorful, active display. The rounded portion of Howler Junction is also conducive to better traffic flow in this area of the rainforest. Some portions of the pathways that were often "bottle-necked" have been, and continue to be, modified to provide space for our guests. If you find that some of your favorite creatures are missing, keep looking as they have probably just been relocated to an upgraded habitat!

The designation of 2008 as The Year of the Frog was emphasized on February 29th, when we displayed some of our frogs and toads that are normally off-exhibit as we enjoyed the extra day of leap year 2008. Several recent renovations have been made to better display these tiny "jewels of the rainforest." The two new exhibits across from the River exhibit are near completion and are excellent examples of animals, plants and water features being combined to create functional and aesthetic habitats.

The upper level addition to the outdoor South Africa exhibit is currently being shared by the Shoebill stork and the Lady Ross's turaco. Both species can best be seen from the second level of Mundo Maya at admissions.

The exhibit near the new second level Gift Shop bridge entrance is now home to two-toed sloths. Transferred to the DWA from our conservation partner (the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica/Aviarios Del Caribe) these cousins of our three-toed sloths are quite entertaining and have unique names, such as Freckles, Velcro and Tiger Lily.

Grupo Pakal, the Mayan Performance Troupe that performs on weekends and holidays in Mundo Maya, will provide extra entertainment during spring break. In addition to their regular performances on Saturday and Sunday, they will appear Monday through Friday (March 10-14), from 11:00 am - 3:30 pm.

As previously mentioned, we were hopefully anticipating that a pleasant surprise might be developing in the pouch of our female tree kangaroo! We could not be more pleased with baby "Mattie" who is now spending more time out of the pouch, which is quickly becoming rather cramped! Mattie was a real hit at the recent Tree Kangaroo Symposium hosted by the DWA. We will also host a Seadragon Husbandry Symposium in April, which will be well represented by national and international institutions.

Sincerely,
Daryl Richardson
Director

Here is another newsletter article from mid-2007:

Quote:

Dear Members,

Many of you visiting may have noticed quite a bit of dust in the air. I apologize for any inconveniences but the end product will be well worth the trouble. Renovations recently completed include the opening of Toucan Heights in the area behind the Orinoco crocodiles and the Flooded Forest. Formerly the home to Cotton-top tamarins and the Bare-throated bell bird, the new "Toucan Heights" now features new plants, water features and eight species of unique animals.

The renovated Madagascar Exhibit (located outside in the Black-footed penguin area) may be small in size but it is full of interesting plants and animals. One of the most colorful and captivating is the Parson's chameleon. Above the Madagascar exhibit will be a new enclosure opening in late July that will house additional spectacular flora and fauna of South Africa.

On February 28, 2007, the first Ornate hawk eagle hatched at The Dallas World Aquarium. Originally named "Audrey," we have decided that "Andy" is a more appropriate name for this beautiful, regal eagle (males are markedly smaller than female Hawk eagles). Andy's parents can be seen in the upper canopy of the Mundo Maya exhibit above the Temple of the Jaguar!

Coming Soon! We are widening the pathway at the entrance into the Orinoco rainforest at the corner of Howler Junction. Howler Junction will have all new glass as well as updated mesh and new computer monitors for guests to enjoy some fun facts about our troupe of Red howlers and all the other interesting animals that share that habitat. On the right as you enter the rainforest near CafÃ© Maya a new exhibit, "Jungle Jewels," will soon open. It will be home to numerous brilliantly colored South American birds, such as manakins, tanagers, barbets and hummingbirds and also some captive born Dendrobates from our collection.

Of particular interest to our younger visitors are the heavily armored Horseshoe crabs. Found in Mundo Maya at the end of the Shark tunnel, these prehistoric, living fossils share their exhibit with the slow-moving Queen conchs and a myriad of colorful Caribbean fish.

Thank you for supporting our institution during a few new growing pains. These improvements should certainly enhance your future visits and continue to entertain and educate as you enjoy The Dallas World Aquarium.

Sincerely,
Daryl Richardson
Director

okapikpr · 05-10-2008

The latest newsletter is posted on the aquarium's website. The Predators exhibit will become a new Leafy SeaDragon exhibit and several species have been added to various exhibits. DWA is also working with facilites in Peru to rehab Amazonian Manatees.

http://www.dwazoo.com/newsletter/ind...etters/200809/

Also, does anyone know anything about DWA's Shoebill Stork. I received this year's guidebook and there is no mention of it.

Ungulate · 05-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by okapikpr

Also, does anyone know anything about DWA's Shoebill Stork. I received this year's guidebook and there is no mention of it.

I believe it passed away earlier this year.
Does anyone know if the "upper level addition" to South Africa was the old fairy penguin exhibit?

Zebraduiker · 05-10-2008

Yes, the shoebill was killed by an accident. I friend of me has seen it two years ago, the bird was not on exhibit, it was living in an exhibit right on the roof of the building. I think, it was never on exhibit.

I like the collection of the DWA also, but on the other side, they have a lot of very bad exhibits, so for the tree kangaroo, the giant otters or the little penguins. The temple of the jaguar is the most worst new exhibits for big cats I've ever seen until now.

But they hav also a few good exhibits, so for the manatees.

Do they have got now the water opposums from south america ?

@okapikpr. What is on the cover of the 2008 guidebook, is it one of the throw-it-away guidebooks, which the visitors get it for free, or do you mean the real, big guidebook, which is on sale in the giftshops ? It shows the building on the cover.I have three diffrent versions of the free guidebook, with a toucan, a giant otter and a bullshark on the cover.

okapikpr · 06-10-2008

Quote:

@okapikpr. What is on the cover of the 2008 guidebook, is it one of the throw-it-away guidebooks, which the visitors get it for free, or do you mean the real, big guidebook, which is on sale in the giftshops ? It shows the building on the cover.I have three diffrent versions of the free guidebook, with a toucan, a giant otter and a bullshark on the cover.

THROW-IT-AWAY??!!?? What a horrible way to describe a map. I believe I have the 2008 free guidebook. It is much larger than previous (11x8 in.) and the cover is of the underwater viewing tunnel of the cenote tank, looking up (a really cool picture). I didnt know they also had a real guidebook too!

I havent heard much more about the Yapok...

snowleopard · 06-10-2008

I've heard conflicting reports on the Dallas World Aquarium, with some people slamming the small size of the overall area and the poor exhibits that are found throughout the area, while others tend to focus on the spectacular collection and the numerous above average habitats. I should go one day and judge for myself, as this aquarium seems to be a notch below the big guns like Monterey Bay, Shedd, Georgia, Baltimore and Vancouver...which I'm pretty sure are the 5 biggest and possibly 5 best in North America.

Ungulate · 06-10-2008

Snowleopard,
I visited in June 2007, and my main impression was that it isn't REALLY an aquarium in the traditional sense (it is so named because the first exhibits were the series of fish tanks in the basement, I believe). The main exhibits are large "rainforests", but I did find them somewhat lacking in rainforest vibe ... too many pathways and not enough dense vegetation for my liking. I can see both sides of the highlights/criticisms, but my main point it that I doubt it can be compared to an aquarium proper, as there is a strong focus on callitrichids (marmosets) and ramphastids (toucans and the like).

Zebraduiker · 06-10-2008

The shoebill was on exhibit, I found this information on the webside.

@Okapikpr. I know, throw-it-away isn't a nice name for a guidebook, but as you could see, there is a basket at the exit for the books and most vistors put it in for recycling.

I have a picture of this basket, full of hundreds of free guidebooks....
Yes, there is a really good guidebook, its a little bit larger than the free guidebooks and has 64 pages with a lot pictures in it and a loose field guide, but no map. It descirpes most of the animals. I've heared,they have published it, because the free guide should be to complicated to the vistors, so I thought, they have replaced it, but it seems, the big guidebook is sold out. I wonder about that, because it was not cheap.

Maybe you can get it, if you ask somebody at the DWA.

Zebraduiker · 04-11-2008

Does anybody knows, when the manatees arrived at the Dallas World Aquarium ? I ask, because I've got today two older editions of the Guidebook and I try to find out when they were published, there is one with a orinoco crocodile on the cover, this guide ist without the manatees, and the other one shows a manatee on the cover, so I think, this guide came out in the year the manatees has arrived.

Ungulate · 04-11-2008

I believe the manatees arrived in 1999 or 2000

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