WINTER
LETTER FROM OUR CEO CORPORATE PARTNERS
GREETINGS MEMBERS AND FRIENDS As I write this column, we are experiencing our first major cold front of the year, a welcome respite from the heat of an unusually long summer. This change of seasons means a variety of things here at your Texas State Aquarium. It means we are finalizing our objectives, work plans and program budgets for next year. With the busy summer travel season over, we are also seeing more local families and individuals take advantage of all of the exhibits and programming that the Aquarium has to offer. However, we still have some new programming to roll out this year, including a new exhibition, “…To the Rescue” that has just been installed. This interpretative project, located in the Caribbean Journey special exhibit gallery, tells the story of more than a dozen patients that have recently been cared for in our Wildlife Rescue Center. Through documented case studies, guests can get a glimpse into the injuries and illness sustained by sea turtles, shorebirds and raptors, and their successful treatment and release or transfer to another institution. Their stories are compelling, and a reminder of why our work is so vital. What struck me the most, however, was the series of small acrylic boxes, 66 in all, mounted along the far wall of the exhibition and next to many rescued animals’ stories. What, at first glance, might look like an antique fishing lure collection or a marine debris art installation is in truth a collection of items actually removed from injured animals treated in our Wildlife Rescue Center. These items represent only a fraction of the artifacts that our dedicated rescue team have removed from shorebirds, raptors and sea turtles over the last decade. Our hope is that this exhibition raises awareness of the perils that wild animals face, and what each of us can do to help prevent this debris from being improperly discarded.
Allison Flooring America CC General & Implant Dentistry Devary Durrill Foundation Gowland, Strealy, Morales & Company Labatt Food Service
Many of you may be aware that our Wildlife Recue Center is currently located in a steel warehouse along Rincon Channel, a few miles from our main campus. Formerly our SeaLab education center, we were able to convert this facility to our Wildlife Rescue Center with the opening of Caribbean Journey. With our education team and programming now located at the main campus, this provided the opportunity and the space to expand our rescue facilities. This is a temporary fix; our long-term goal is to build a new state-of-art rescue center on our main campus. As the only facility in Texas with the capacity to treat marine mammals, shorebirds, raptors and sea turtles, this new center will allow us to improve and expand our care and provide greater capacity for collaborating wildlife research and conservation work. Having the new center on our main campus will also provide an opportunity for students and teachers to get a glimpse of what our teams are doing to care for wildlife. As we look forward to 2019, we will continue to keep you up to date with latest Aquarium news. In the meantime, please come and celebrate the holidays with us at your Texas State Aquarium!
NuStar Energy Occidental Chemical Corporation Pattern Gulf Wind, LLC Western Steel Co.
1
Tom Schmid President and CEO
WINTER 2018
animal spotlight
MELVI N He is big, red, lays around most of the year and possesses a robust appetite. No, we’re not talking about Santa….but this edition’s Animal Spotlight shares some qualities with the big man that make him just as fitting of a holiday symbol, if you ask us. First, there’s Melvin’s bright festive color. While Melvin is a green iguana, this vibrant lizard is unique in that he’s mostly red. Melvin also has tinges of emerald in his scales, so he’s wearing a green-and-red Christmas “suit” year-round! Like Santa, Melvin spends most of the year relaxing, or as its better known, “basking.” While lying nearly motionless, the cold-blooded iguana soaks up sun to better regulate its body
WINTER 2018
temperature. Santa prefers the North Pole for its cold temperature, and Melvin also prefers the highest possible point…for the exact opposite reason. At the top of trees or elevated rockwork, iguanas can gather the most sunlight to stay warm while keeping an eye on their surroundings. While Santa may be able to see you while you’re sleeping, not even St. Nick has a third eye like Melvin. Using a retina-like structure on his head, the iguana can sense changes in light, a skill which helps it detect and avoid predators. Like Santa, Melvin does occasionally get moving…but not without the motivation of a snack. While cookies and milk are Santa’s choice, Melvin prefers a healthier diet of fruit, veggies and even the occasional flower. Stop by soon this holiday season and see this festive-looking lizard for yourself!
2
Enrichment Holiday “gifts” keep animals active in body and mind Dolphin EEDS
From cookie decorating to unwrapping new gifts, the sharing of food and gifts during the holidays lets us spread love and cheer throughout the season. In December, our animals get some festive “enrichment” as well for much of the same reason. Holiday-themed “toys” and “treats” help provide mentally and physically-stimulating activities for dolphins, otters, birds and more, and we get a lot of enjoyment out of seeing them with their new “gifts” as well.
Dolphin EEDS Pool noodles wrapped in duct tape to form famous holiday shapes make for great Environmental Enrichment Devices (EEDs) for our dolphins…plus they allow for some pretty fin-tastic photo-ops.
SNOW
snow
Otters are built for the cold…but we don’t see much natural snowfall in sunny South Texas. By using an ice machine, however, we can give our active otters a mini winter wonderland in which to frolic.
Wrapping Paper Many parents find that their children often get more out of the packaging than the gift itself, and it’s the same with our animals. Birds and others mammals love to chew, claw and otherwise interact with holiday wrapping paper.
Gelatin Gumdrops and sugar plums are too sweet for our animals…but gelatin is the next best thing! Dyed sugarless gelatin gives animals like Kimani the serval and others a colorful and stimulating activity to celebrate the season.
wrapping paper
Christmas Trees Live evergreen trees, even those that have begun to brown, can provide a happy holiday for our rescued birds throughout the year. These trees offer these recuperating animals a comfortable and natural place to roost and relax. If you want to gift your old Christmas tree to our rescue animals, call us at 361-881-1210. By making a cash donation to the Aquarium’s Annual Fund, you will help support enrichment for all of the Aquarium’s animals throughout the year.
GELATIN For more information, Go to www.texasstateaquarium.org/support.
3
WINTER 2018
AQUARIUM NEWS We’ve been honored to be able to offer the Aquarium experience to guests who might otherwise not have the chance to visit, and we look forward to more opportunities like these in the future. To discover the next Diversity & Inclusion Initiative event, go to: www.texasstateaquarium.org/events.
AN AQUARIUM FOR
EVERYONE D i ve rs ity & Inc lusi on I ni tiati v es W e l c om e Gu e s ts Our Diversity and Inclusion Initiative kicked off this year with Sensory Sensitive Sundays, Deaf Awareness Day and Dream Nights to celebrate and welcome our diverse community. These events, provided through support from Driscoll Health Plan and the Coastal Bend Community Foundation, offered modified presentations, exhibits, and activities to accommodate guests facing the challenges of autism, special needs, deaf and hard-of-hearing and other disabilities.
coming soon
MARCH 2019 Featuring striking images of the world’s polar regions from National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen, this upcoming exhibition takes visitors underwater and across the ice, delivering a unique close-up of wildlife in the Arctic and Antarctic.
WINTER 2018
4
THE SCIENCE OF
A
WELFARE A n i m a l w e l l- b e i n g t h e f o c u s o f o n g o i n g s t u d y
n animal can’t tell you if it’s healthy and happy, so how do you know when it is…and when it isn’t? A groundbreaking Animal Welfare Program that kicked off this year will attempt to answer that very question. Staff will collect data evaluating the health and overall well-being of our animal collection and explore how we can take even better care of our more than 460 species. The initial focus of the welfare program will be on two of our most intelligent animals – dolphins and octopuses.
C e ta c e a n W e l f a r e S t u d y Along with several other institutions, we’re using special devices called M-TAGs to periodically track the dolphin’s movements and other behaviors to better understand them. Video recording and biological sampling is also used to monitor the dolphin’s health and behavior. This data will be combined with that taken by hundreds of other institutions to evaluate how physical habitat, environmental enrichment and animal training influences behavior and physiology across a population of cetaceans in managed care. So far, we’ve completed a five-week study period and will be involved in another five-week study period in January and February of 2019.
G i a n t P a c i f i c O c t o p u s H e a lt h M at r i x S t u d y This project aims to better understand how facilities can manage the health and wellness of the giant Pacific octopus. We’ll make weekly evaluations of our octopuses’ behaviors and health and submit the data to share with other institutions.
S tay t u n e d f o r m o r e A n i m a l W e l f a r e u p d at e s t h r o u g h o u t 2 0 1 9 !
5
WINTER 2018
aquarium news
Survival Stories
“…To The Rescue” Exhibition Highlights Wildlife Rescue Every day at our Wildlife Rescue Center, something amazing happens. A bird’s shattered wing is slowly put back into place….a stranded sea turtle learns to swim on its own again…or an ill seabird regains its appetite and its strength. And almost every day, one of these animals makes its final step to recovery with a triumphant return to its natural habitat. And yet, many of our guests don’t know these stories, or that its because of their support as an Aquarium member or guest that we’re able to rehabilitate, release or rehome hundreds of injured animals each year. That’s because a percentage of every Aquarium membership and guest ticket goes to help fund our Wildlife Rescue Center.
Thank you to our Aquarium members, donors and guests who make these incredible rescue stories possible!
A new media exhibition called “...To the Rescue” shines some light on the patients that got a second chance at life through our Wildlife Rescue program. In this extensive exhibit located in the Caribbean Sea Gallery, guests can follow 17 different animals from rescue to treatment and rehabilitation while learning more about this amazing program.
“…To the Rescue” is open through February 19, 2019 during regular Aquarium hours and is included with admission or membership.
The Texas State Aquarium is Proud To Recognize
Presenting Sponsor Texas State Aquarium CITGO Skyline Venue WINTER 2018
6
CO N S E R VAT I O N
Looking for a gift this holiday season that not only makes your loved ones happy, but makes a difference? We offer many unique and fun gifts for holiday giving that not only will bring joy to those who receive them, but will also help to further the Aquarium’s mission, including animal care, wildlife rescue and wildlife conservation.
Commemorative Pavers: Leave a lasting legacy at the Texas State Aquarium by purchasing a personalized engraved paver honoring family, friends and other loved ones. Engraved pavers go to our Annual Fund, which supports animal care, wildlife recue and other vital programs.
Aquarium Memberships Give the gift of a year of adventure at the Texas State Aquarium. Gift Memberships provide 12 months of unlimited visits to the Aquarium and include discounts in our Pepsi Shoreline Grill and Gift Shop along with special member discounts. Memberships help to fund the Aquarium’s important work, including the rescue and release of more than 300 ill and injured wildlife each year!
Gift Shop Buy a stuffed animal and help save an animal! It’s that easy, since a portion of our gift goes to Wildlife Rescue and our animal care programs!
Aquarium Exclusive Encounters Meet a Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth and dolphins, feed flamingos and fish and learn what happens behind-the-scenes at the Aquarium in our Exclusive Encounters. Funds from Exclusive Encounters help support the Aquarium’s conservation, animal care and education programs.
No matter what you choose, it’s a gift you can feel good about, since it’s going to help feed, heal and care for our animals…and even rescued wildlife. Let’s meet some of the Wildlife Rescue patients that can benefit from your holiday gift!
SEAson’s Greetings
CHRISTMAS AT THE AQUARIUM
Two favorites will be returning for the holidays!
7
Scuba Santa St. Nick is trading in his sleigh and reindeer for a scuba tank and fins to visit the children of the Coastal Bend! Scuba Santa will appear daily in the H-E-B Caribbean Sea’s tunnel at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. until December 23 with a staff member available to take pictures with you and your family. Be sure to catch a photo op with Scuba Santa before he dries off and returns to the North Pole before Christmas! SEASON 2018
CO N S E R VAT I O N
1
1. Pied-Billed Grebe This grebe was found in a local parking lot, unable to fly due to a wing fracture. With rest, the facture is expected to heal and this bird can hopefully one day be able to fly and be released!
2. Barn Owl Chicks These three chicks were found in the roof of building being demolished, and were separated from their parents. We plan to release these owls when they’re fully feathered and have learned to fly and catch prey.
2
3
3. Broadwinged Hawk This hawk was found with a fracture to its wing that unfortunately required amputation. A protective cone was used to keep the hawk from tearing its bandages. Since the hawk is nonreleasable, we plan to place it with an education facility as an animal ambassador.
4. Loggerhead Turtle This tiny turtle was found stranded on the beach, with portions of its flippers missing due to predation. Fortunately, these wounds are quickly healing and its swimming ability is being evaluated, so hopefully it will soon be released!
5. Brown Pelican This pelican was found on Corpus Christi’s seawall with a wing fracture and eye injury, requiring it to have surgery. This pelican is non-releasable, so it will be found a new permanent home in protective care.
4
5
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ 4-D Experience®
SEASON 2018
A popular 4-D movie from last year arrives once again in time for the holidays! THE POLAR EXPRESS™ take guests on an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, following a doubting young boy as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. THE POLAR EXPRESS™4-D Experience is based on the inspiring and beloved Caldecott Medal children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. This 4D film will run daily through January 4, 2019, and shows are included with admission or membership.
8
CO N S E R VAT I O N
Sustainable
From there, aquarists carefully collect them and transfer them to a behind-the-scenes area where they’re allowed to safely grow. When large enough, they’re reintroduced to the exhibit to contribute to more generations of healthy and sustainable seahorses. All in all, nearly a dozen species are being aquacultured at the Aquarium. These animals play a major part in the Aquarium’s mission of conservation and sustainability.
A
young child presses her face to the window of the Aquatic Nursery and peers down at the real-life version of her favorite Pixar character. It’s the reaction many guests have upon first catching sight of the exhibit’s tiny tomato clownfish, each no larger than a fingernail. These recently-hatched fish are a slightly different species than those shown in the film “Finding Nemo,” but nevertheless bear a striking resemblance to the film’s famous clownfish. These baby clownfish, which hatched right here at the Aquarium from a breeding adult pair, are just a few of the species on exhibit in the Aquatic Nursery, one of the newer exhibits
9
in Gulf of Mexico. If you look closely into this exhibit, guests might also find brine shrimp, moon jellies, cuttlefish and even unborn sharks, squirming inside their “mermaid purse” egg cases. These animals allow our visitors a peek into the wonderful world of aquaculture, the hatching and raising of aquatic animals. And beyond the Aquatic Nursery and behind-the-scenes, even more new life is being created… Just a few feet from the nursery, hundreds of tiny lined seahorses barely larger than a speck of dust drift about in a specialized holding tank. Male seahorses, which take on the burden of birth from females, hatch these miniscule seahorses while on exhibit in Living Shores.
As a bonus, guests get to see a side of ocean life that often occurs out of sight! Visit the Aquatic Nursery soon to see our sustainability mission in action!
WINTER 2018
calendar
NOV 23-DEC 24 SCUBA SANTA
JAN 16
HOMESCHOOL: LOCOMOTION COMMOTION Winter Hours 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday - Saturday H-E-B Splash Park Hours of Operation October – May: Closed for the season (Exact dates subject to change)
Santa is coming to town and diving on down! Come to the Aquarium daily to pose for a picture with the submerged St. Nick! www.texastateaquarium.org/scubasanta
DEC 25
CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS
Merry Christmas! We will be closed for the holiday but will reopen December 26 for regular hours of 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
DEC 27 & 28 DIVE INTO THE DEEP MINI-CAMP
Flap your wings, swish your tail or crawl on into this month’s Homeschool. We are all about moving around! www.texasstateaquarium.org/homeschool
FEB 1
AQUATEEN APPLICATIONS OPEN AquaTeens is an exciting way for teens ages 14-17 to explore opportunities in zoo and aquarium careers, and applications open soon! www.texasstataquarium.org/aquateens
How To Contact Us: Accounting (361) 881-1286 Admissions (361) 881-1230 Donations & Development (361) 881-1340 Education & SeaCamp (361) 881-1204 Event Rentals (361) 881-1244 General Information (361) 881-1200 Gift Shop (361) 881-1232 Group Reservations (361) 653-2602 Naturalist Office (361) 881-1250
FEB 14
VALENTINE’S DINNER
Injured Animal (361) 881-1210 Membership (361) 881-1341 Pepsi Shoreline Grill (361) 881-1239 Volunteers (361) 881-1381 Wildlife Rescue and Recovery: (361) 881-1210 The Texas State Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Ocean explorers ages Kindergarten -5th grade will use STEM process skills to discover how animals survive in the deep ocean www.texastateaquarium.org/minicamp
Our popular underwater dining experience returns, offering a romantic candlelit dinner next to our aquatic exhibits. To reserve your space and be notified of ticket availability, email reserve@txstateaq.org
Follow us!
texasstateaquarium.org
WINTER 2018
10
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1235 Corpus Christi, TX
IN THIS ISSUE
What do Santa and an iguana share in common? Find out inside!
Discover how we’re studying Animal Welfare in dolphins and octopuses.
