Happy holidays from Mystic Aquarium! However, when the scene is on the California Sea Lions at 0:15, one can see 5 sea lions, when the aquarium states that 4 perform in the shows. Is this one of the females that was planned to go in the Pacific Northwest exhibit, or is it a new male that Mystic hasn't told us about yet? I have no idea, but I might make a Mystic visit this weekend.
It's nesting season for the African Penguins, and the live webcam is back up. Penguin Webcam - Mystic Aquarium
Get ready for wierd science Feb. 16-24! Mystic Aquarium presents "Weird Science" Feb. 16 - 24 - Mystic Aquarium ~Thylo
The aquarium recently did a Species of the Month features on Juno, probably the most popular animal in the entire aquarium. Beluga Whale - Mystic Aquarium Thylacine- Given your interest in Nigel, this might be nice for you. Grand Cayman Blue Iguana - Mystic Aquarium
From Mystic Aquarium Facebook- Though healthy, Yellow Pink, our 14-year-old male African penguin, lost his feathers and hasn't grown them back yet. To help him stay warm while he swims, our trainers, veterinarians and research team designed and created a custom neoprene wetsuit. Made from one of Mystic Aquarium’s old diving wetsuits, Yellow Pink will wear the suit while swimming until he molts and grows new feathers. Photo: Abigail Pheiffer
From their Facebook- Many thanks to UnitedHealthcare for donating 12 new wheelchairs valued at over $25,000. Mystic Aquarium is an ADA compliant institution and our wheelchairs are available to guests on a complimentary basis. Also, the aquarium is closed today due to the weather.
While the Mystic trip was a bust, I found out via Facebook that there are 6California Sea Lions in the Foxwoods Marine Theater.
This video gave some valuable info about the aquarium's Northern Fur Seals. The Northern Fur Seals are in Kodiak's former exhibit. There are 3 males, Baranov, originally from Mystic who stayed at the New England Aquarium for a while, and two brothers named Jack and Sam, from New York Aquarium. They share an exhibit with 1 male Pacific Harbor Seal, named Spanky, who might have come from Adventure Aquarium, but I'm not quite sure. As Mystic works in cooperation with all other facilities that hold Northern Fur Seals, their role is to house male fur seals until breeding oppurtunities arise. Species of the Month-Northern Fur Seal - Mystic Aquarium
Spanky must have gone on exhibit sometime between September 2011 and July 2012, as he was probably one of the four seals that was on exhibit back when Kodiak was still alive, as this photo shows. http://www.zoochat.com/1142/pacific-northwest-stellers-sea-lion-harbor-284784/#post639092
When I visited in July 2011 there were more than two Steller Sea Lions in the first exhibit and one elderly Pacific Harbor Seal (a docent said it was the oldest animal at the aquarium) and the second exhibit was empty (well until a child threw his toy into the exhibit and some animals were moved into the second exhibit while the toy was retrieved). So was Kodiak occasionally moved into the first exhibit? Also, where are the other 0.0.3 seals now? ~Thylo
Kodiak always remained in the second exhibit. The elderly harbor seal, Rocky, died in February 2012. The Northern Fur Seals are in the second exhibit with Spanky. I don't know where the 0.0.3 Harbor Seals went.
A nice article on how Mystic prepared for Friday's blizzard. Employee team spends night at Mystic Aquarium - The Westerly Sun: News
2 penguin chicks were the result of this year's breeding season. Mystic Aquarium welcomes two African penguin chicks - Mystic Aquarium
From the aquarium's Facebook- " We are scheduled to break ground on our new research center this fall, and students seeking real-world, hands-on research experiences will have their fill in a state-of-the-art laboratory thanks to a $50,000 grant provided by Dominion, which operates Millstone Power Station in Connecticut. Dominion recently presented the check in the company of Bacon Academy students participating in Mystic Aquarium's Researcher for a Day program. Thank you, Dominion, for your generous support!"
Is that where the Electric Eel and the Red-Bellied Piranha are? I don't remember much space in that section for more exhibits, where is she in this exhibit? ~Thylo
