New year, new thread. As always it will be interesting to hear more about the good work being done by the aquarium.
Harbour porpoises, Jack and Daisy, have moved in with Belugas, Aurora and Qila. A New Space for Jack and Daisy | AquaBlog
A sick Guadalupe fur seal is being cared for by the rescue team. He is refusing to eat but the team is trying hard to get the rare BC visitor eat and drink. Hopefully he makes it and can be returned to southern waters where he belongs. Sick and stranded fur seal under care of Vancouver Aquarium - British Columbia - CBC News
Days after rescuing the fur seal, who still isn't doing well, they have rescued a green sea turtle, who has hypothermia but is doing well. El Nino is being blamed for both strandings. Threatened seal, endangered sea turtle rescued near Tofino
The fur seal did not survive. Fur seal rescued off Vancouver Island dies - British Columbia - CBC News
Interesting. Certainly a mix new for me. What other marine mammal animals are mixed together at the aquarium?
The Beluga/Porpoise has been done before. Kamogawa Sea World in Japan currently houses the same combo as well. Additionally Belugas have been mixed with Commerson's Dolphins at Seaworld San Diego, Mystic Aquarium and Zoo Duisburg. Thanks to their fairly amiable nature, Belugas are good candidates for mixed species exhibits. The Aquarium additionally houses their Pseudorca and Pacific White Sided Dolphin together. They have their Stellar's Sea Lions and Harbour Seals mixed as well, though that is hardly a new mix.
I remember back when Mystic kept its Beluga's with Bottlenose Dolphins. They lived together, had shows together, and otherwise seemed to get along swimmingly. Also, they would have Sea Lion shows while the two other species swam around. After the Belugas moved outside they were also housed with some kind of seal, I don't know what kind and I don't think they were Harbor Seals. In other news, VA had its best ever year in attendance: Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre - blooloop
The VA is the unfortunate subject of a new, peta, husus, et al funded documentary that makes all sorts of false accusations, the least of which is that the Aquarium is a for profit institution: And The Oscar Goes To ? Just Kidding, This New PETA Film Is Crap
What the Aquarium Staff think of said documentary: Vancouver Aquarium staff condemn documentary on whale and dolphin program | News Talk 980 CKNW | Vancouver's News. Vancouver's Talk
Vancouver Aquarium is opening a stingray touch tank in March and at this point there has been no mention of any additional fees to access that area.
The Aquarium is suing over the film. Oddly enough the filmmaker feels as if the Aquarium is playing "dirty": Vancouver Aquarium suing filmmaker claiming to expose unethical practices - NEWS 1130
Chester has made a friend!: B.C. boy and whale become unlikely friends at Vancouver Aquarium | Metro News
Discover Rays is now open. Vancouver Aquarium opens new stingray touching pool - British Columbia - CBC News
Founding director of the Aquarium, Murray Newman, has passed away. Looking back at the legacy of Murray Newman, founding director of Vancouver Aquarium - BC | Globalnews.ca
Murray Newman was the original director of Vancouver Aquarium and he spent 37 years in that position before retiring in 1993 and his autobiography is terrific. His impact was so powerful that the aquarium actually closed down for 3 hours last week in order to hold a memorial service for the late, great leader. Interestingly enough, John Nightingale has now been director for the past 23 years and so Vancouver Aquarium has only had 2 directors in 60 years...an astonishing achievement that few modern facilities can match. On a side note, I visited Vancouver Aquarium today and since the $45 million expansion in 2014 there is now 1.1 million annual visitors and the place is always incredibly busy. The new Discover Rays touch tank is very well done but only a temporary exhibit and delightfully free of charge. Also, there are now images, models and drawings posted around the aquarium in regards to the overhaul of the outdoor pools and I uploaded some photos in the ZooChat gallery for those that are interested. The aquarium intends to continue with Beluga Whales in the collection and the proposed new exhibit will be 2.5 times larger than the current one. The revamp of the outdoor exhibits will no doubt cost tens of millions of dollars but clearly Vancouver Aquarium is one of the very best establishments of its kind in North America.
The rescued sea turtle is heading to Sea World San Diego to continue his journey back to the wild. Endangered green sea turtle found in B.C. heading back to California | Vancouver Sun