National Aquarium in Baltimore National Aquarium, Baltimore Updates and Events

A public commitment to the National Dolphin Sanctuary. The dolphins will move by 2026 to one of three potential locations: one in the US Virgin Islands and two in Puerto Rico. The cost will total around $15-20 million with an annual upkeep of around $2-$2.5 million a year (very similar costs currently).

Caribbean or bust by 2026 for National Aquarium dolphins

 

This is such a waste of resources...

 

Upland Tropical Rainforest: Two sloths (0.2) have arrived on exhibit. Buttercup is on exhibit now with Scout (the other resident female born at the Aquarium in 2013). The other, Piper, is the offspring of Buttercup and will be on exhibit in the coming months.

 

Hey, any of you guys remember that Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle that was supposed to be on display in the Atlantic Coral Reef by the time it was the summer of last year? Well, I was wondering if they were going to show actual images of the turtle in said Atlantic Coral Reef tank, or most likely I think the sea turtle still needs more time before eventually acclimating to the Atlantic Coral Reef exhibit.

 

The turtle is still at their rescue center. It has bubble butt, and they're working hard at constructing the best apparatus to help it.

 

I see.

 

There are two turtles deemed non releasable at the Aquarium: a green sea turtle name Kai who has the buoyancy issue and a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle named Odie who arrived from a turtle breeding center in Cayman Islands.

There are no immediate plans to exhibit Kai and will remain at the Animal Care and Rescue Center until a suitable device is fitted to counteract the buoyancy issue

Odie, the Kemp's, will be exhibited in the Atlantic Coral Reef exhibit soon.

 

Hm. Well, I hope to see some pictures of Odie the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle once he’s on exhibit at the Atlantic Coral Reef.

 

According to the State's FY 2025 Budget, the Aquarium is in the beginning phases of securing funding for renovation of the Atlantic Coral Reef and Shark Alley exhibits - commonly referred to as the Ring Tanks. These exhibits were last renovated over 20 years ago in 1994. The Aquarium has $90 million in capital improvement needs over the next ten years, of which $65 million are deferred maintenance projects for the upkeep of all three buildings.

 

The Atlantic Coral Reef and Shark Alley exhibits are getting renovated? Well, it’s about time for the changes! I wonder what the concept art of the new redesigns of the Atlantic Coral Reef and Shark Alley would look like…

 

A giant pacific octopus is now on exhibit in the Feeding gallery on Level 3 after a multi- year absence.

 

Coolio

 

Atlantic Coral Reef - Pecorino, a rescued Kemp's Ridley sea turtle is now on exhibit. The Ring Tanks have not held a sea turtle since the early '90s and is the first turtle exhibited since Calypso, a beloved Green sea turtle in Blacktip Reef, passed in 2020.

Upland Tropical Rainforest - Buttercup, a two toed sloth, has given birth to a female. The exhibit now holds four.