WONDERS OF WILDLIFE Did you know that the lion’s mane jellyfish is the largest jellyfish species known to exist? Their bell can get as wide as seven feet, while their tentacles extend over 100 feet, making it longer than a blue whale. And while containing one in an aquarium would be virtually impossible, curious museum goers can see a diver interact with one via video at Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, which sits next to the national headquarters of Bass Pro Shops in Springfield. The 1.5 million–gallon aquarium opened in September of 2017 and is a not-forprofit educational conservation attraction. I wanted company for my excursion there, and my mom was happy to oblige. The 350,000-square-foot experience took us just under five hours to complete and led us around a 300,000-gallon circular ocean, past 35,000 animals including 800 species of fish, eels, sharks, rays, and jellies, and through 1.5 miles of immersive wildlife galleries, featuring a record-setting collection of game animals and 4D dioramas. Once we worked our way past the opening exhibits, our journey transported us under the ocean to a coral reef, where parrotfish swam about and bright blue eels lurked in the shadows. Center stage was the wreckage of a ship, the mast and crow’s nest covered in barnacles. Tropical fish of all shapes and colors splashed around, and a look over the railing’s edge revealed stingrays gliding freely below. I found myself particularly enamored by the harlequin tuskfish. Based on their bright colors and rainbow stripes, it was hard to believe that they are a solitary and territorial species. With the push of a door, we left the ocean behind and found ourselves in a dark and creepy swamp. The rock formations, trees, and even the sounds reminded me of trips to
54
APRIL 2020
the Florida Everglades. Flamingos, otters, a pelican, and even a beaver played in the surrounding water while an alligator kept a keen watch over the people coming and going. The journey continued through the Amazon, where piranhas, peacock bass, and frogs frolicked behind the glass. The temperature changed dramatically as we moved into a cave, which was full of short-tailed bats, stalactites, and albino catfish. The adventure had something for everyone. Kids felt the velvet-like skin of the rays, fishing buffs took in the bass museum and other exhibits, and the brave paid a little extra to swim with the sharks (while enclosed in a metal cage, of course). Along the way, photos, videos, and memorabilia of Johnny Morris’ own fishing adventures gave us a sense of the man behind the attraction and his passion for conservation. The journey wasn’t complete without a visit to the wildlife galleries located upstairs at Bass Pro. The adventure began with the history of the great buffalo hunt of local Native