National Aquarium in Baltimore National Aquarium, Baltimore Updates and Events

The Aquarium has posted an article describing the on-going National Dolphin Sanctuary project. The Aquarium has partnered with the Sea Life Trust (the organization behind the beluga whale sanctuary in Iceland) as well as the Whale Sanctuary Project to develop a series of standards for marine mammal sanctuaries. The Aquarium has also announced that ten other dolphin-holding institutions (home to 66 total individuals) have been in contact about potential space for their pods once a site is selected. No site has been announced publicly, nor any public timeline been released.

Sanctuary State

*I will recopy this post in the dolphin sanctuary thread, 'Ending the Dolphin Exhibit?'. Please keep dolphin sanctuary related posts under this thread: Ending the Dolphin Exhibit? [National Aquarium in Baltimore]
 
The Aquarium has installed a VR Experience, called Undersea Explorers, in the Pier 4 atrium near the dolphins and jellies.
 
The Aquarium is due to make a public announcement naming their long delayed waterfront campus project. Harbor Wetlands will be a free outdoor exhibit between Pier 3 and 4 and will be a significantly scaled down version than what was originally envisioned. The $14 million construction project will begin this fall and open next year.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
The Aquarium is due to make a public announcement naming their long delayed waterfront campus project. Harbor Wetlands will be a free outdoor exhibit between Pier 3 and 4 and will be a significantly scaled down version than what was originally envisioned. The $14 million construction project will begin this fall and open next year.
Click to expand...
Does this free, outdoor exhibit contain any live animals? Or is it primarily just a green space/educational exhibit? Either way it sounds compelling, and more urban green spaces are sorely needed in almost every US city.
 
Neil chace said:
Does this free, outdoor exhibit contain any live animals? Or is it primarily just a green space/educational exhibit? Either way it sounds compelling, and more urban green spaces are sorely needed in almost every US city.
Click to expand...

No collection related animals - only those wild counterparts which will inevitably chose to live within the wetlands. It'll mainly act as a compliment to the current outdoor park and a great educational space.

Baltimore has been embracing it's role in cleaning up it's waterways for a number of years now including the Trash Wheel Family (a series of solar powered water mills that collect trash) and the Aquarium's prototype floating wetlands positioned around the Harbor. There are plans for additional floating wetlands (not sponsored by the Aquarium) in the Inner Harbor itself and adjacent neighborhoods including Harbor Point, Fells Point, Locust Point, and Port Covington - all inspired by the Aquarium's initial design.
 
I'm looking for information on the Sea Cliffs alcid exhibit. What are the totals for the three species? Some general gender information, especially about the puffins, would be really helpful, as well.
 
wild boar said:
I'm looking for information on the Sea Cliffs alcid exhibit. What are the totals for the three species? Some general gender information, especially about the puffins, would be really helpful, as well.
Click to expand...

There are about a dozen Atlantic puffins, a half dozen Razorbills, and two Guillemots - all with just about equal sex ratios
 
On March 10th, the aquarium announced they released (0.0.13) Kemp's ridley sea turtles and (0.0.12) green sea turtles back into the wild.

National Aquarium Returns 25 Rehabilitated Sea Turtles to Ocean Home

On April 11th, the aquarium announced that they rehabilitated and released a (1.0) harp seal named Prince back into the wild.

Rescued Juvenile Harp Seal Returns to Ocean as National Aquarium Announces Ocean City Presence

On June 16th, the aquarium announced that they rehabilitated and released a (0.0.1) loggerhead sea turtle back into the wild.

Glockenspiel | Happy #WorldSeaTurtleDay! A couple boating in the Chesapeake Bay last August helped save a very sick loggerhead sea turtle, who recuperated at the... | By National Aquarium | Facebook

On October 24th, the aquarium announced that a (1.0) map pufferfish named Duncan passed away.

It is with heavy hearts that we share... - National Aquarium

On October 25th, the aquarium announced that (0.0.3) blue-headed parrots named Cal, Chris, and Vera hatched in June.

Blue Pionus Chicks! | Squawk! We’ve been keeping this secret since June, so we’re thrilled to finally introduce you to the blue-headed pionus chicks: Chris, Vera and Cal.... | By National Aquarium | Facebook

On November 17th, it was reported that the aquarium opened a new 400-square-foot "National Aquarium Animal Rescue Stranding Response Center" to help with further care of any rescue situation.

Also on November 17th, it was announced that the aquarium transferred a (0.0.1) sunbittern to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida.

National Aquarium Animal Rescue Stranding Response Center Opens in Ocean City
"Nothing to... - St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
 
Smaggledagle said:
On March 10th, the aquarium announced they released (0.0.13) Kemp's ridley sea turtles and (0.0.12) green sea turtles back into the wild.

National Aquarium Returns 25 Rehabilitated Sea Turtles to Ocean Home

On April 11th, the aquarium announced that they rehabilitated and released a (1.0) harp seal named Prince back into the wild.

Rescued Juvenile Harp Seal Returns to Ocean as National Aquarium Announces Ocean City Presence

On June 16th, the aquarium announced that they rehabilitated and released a (0.0.1) loggerhead sea turtle back into the wild.

Glockenspiel | Happy #WorldSeaTurtleDay! A couple boating in the Chesapeake Bay last August helped save a very sick loggerhead sea turtle, who recuperated at the... | By National Aquarium | Facebook

On October 24th, the aquarium announced that a (1.0) map pufferfish named Duncan passed away.

It is with heavy hearts that we share... - National Aquarium

On October 25th, the aquarium announced that (0.0.3) blue-headed parrots named Cal, Chris, and Vera hatched in June.

Blue Pionus Chicks! | Squawk! We’ve been keeping this secret since June, so we’re thrilled to finally introduce you to the blue-headed pionus chicks: Chris, Vera and Cal.... | By National Aquarium | Facebook

On November 17th, it was reported that the aquarium opened a new 400-square-foot "National Aquarium Animal Rescue Stranding Response Center" to help with further care of any rescue situation.

Also on November 17th, it was announced that the aquarium transferred a (0.0.1) sunbittern to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida.

National Aquarium Animal Rescue Stranding Response Center Opens in Ocean City
"Nothing to... - St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
Click to expand...
A few questions.
1. If Duncan the map pufferfish was located in the Animal Care and Rescue Center, how did visitors get to meet him? Was he formerly an exhibit animal or he was only viewable for behind-the-scenes tours?
2. I didn’t see and blue-headed parrots on exhibit, but are all three born earlier this year in the rainforest? And how many does that bring the total to?
 
Some updates from my visit today to the National Aquarium(my former home aquarium)
- The water in the Atlantic Shelf exhibit is shallower now and there is a portion of the glass not filled with water. I think it’s to make it easier for the aquarists. The clearnose skate is permanently retired due to its old age and now lives in the Animal Care and Rescue Center and the sign has been removed.
- Wesley, the sloth will be moving to Tennessee and is currently in backup waiting to be shipped out. The aquarium still has one sloth, Scout and plans to get another sloth.
- The blue-crowned motmot was nowhere to be found and the sign has been removed from the Upland Tropical Rain Forest.
- We are down to five male blacktip reef sharks. All are quite elderly and a few have died in recent years of natural attrition.
- In Shark Alley, I got a total count of all the animals except the cravelle jacks:
- 4 Sandtiger sharks
- 2 sandbar sharks
- 3 nurse sharks
- 2 largetooth sawfish
- 1 roughtail stingray
- The following species were no-shows, so does anyone know if the aquarium still keeps them
- Eastern spiny softshell turtle
- American bullfrog
- Horn shark
- Blue-crowned Motmot(sign has been removed from UTRF)
- Olive python(sign has been removed from Australia Wild Extremes since last time I was there)
- Humphead wrasse
 
Kevin2342 said:
A few questions.
1. If Duncan the map pufferfish was located in the Animal Care and Rescue Center, how did visitors get to meet him? Was he formerly an exhibit animal or he was only viewable for behind-the-scenes tours?
2. I didn’t see and blue-headed parrots on exhibit, but are all three born earlier this year in the rainforest? And how many does that bring the total to?
Click to expand...

The Aquarium offers tours of the Animal Care and Rescue Center. Duncan was typically featured in those tours as an example of a typical quarantine period. Previously he was exhibited in Blacktip Reef but was removed because he kept destroying all the faux coral.

There is currently one Blue headed parrot in the Upland Tropical Rainforest. The recently announced fledgelings are not on exhibit.
 
Kevin2342 said:
Some updates from my visit today to the National Aquarium(my former home aquarium)
- The water in the Atlantic Shelf exhibit is shallower now and there is a portion of the glass not filled with water. I think it’s to make it easier for the aquarists. The clearnose skate is permanently retired due to its old age and now lives in the Animal Care and Rescue Center and the sign has been removed.
- Wesley, the sloth will be moving to Tennessee and is currently in backup waiting to be shipped out. The aquarium still has one sloth, Scout and plans to get another sloth.
- The blue-crowned motmot was nowhere to be found and the sign has been removed from the Upland Tropical Rain Forest.
- We are down to five male blacktip reef sharks. All are quite elderly and a few have died in recent years of natural attrition.
- In Shark Alley, I got a total count of all the animals except the cravelle jacks:
- 4 Sandtiger sharks
- 2 sandbar sharks
- 3 nurse sharks
- 2 largetooth sawfish
- 1 roughtail stingray
- The following species were no-shows, so does anyone know if the aquarium still keeps them
- Eastern spiny softshell turtle
- American bullfrog
- Horn shark
- Blue-crowned Motmot(sign has been removed from UTRF)
- Olive python(sign has been removed from Australia Wild Extremes since last time I was there)
- Humphead wrasse
Click to expand...

The Atlantic Shelf is getting resealed in sections so the water level is lower to allow the epoxy to cure.

There are no Blue crowned motots, American bullfrogs, Spiny shelled turtles, or Olive pythons on exhibit. All others are on exhibit so you might have just missed them.
 
Kevin2342 said:
Some updates from my visit today to the National Aquarium(my former home aquarium)
- The water in the Atlantic Shelf exhibit is shallower now and there is a portion of the glass not filled with water. I think it’s to make it easier for the aquarists. The clearnose skate is permanently retired due to its old age and now lives in the Animal Care and Rescue Center and the sign has been removed.
- Wesley, the sloth will be moving to Tennessee and is currently in backup waiting to be shipped out. The aquarium still has one sloth, Scout and plans to get another sloth.
- The blue-crowned motmot was nowhere to be found and the sign has been removed from the Upland Tropical Rain Forest.
- We are down to five male blacktip reef sharks. All are quite elderly and a few have died in recent years of natural attrition.
- In Shark Alley, I got a total count of all the animals except the cravelle jacks:
- 4 Sandtiger sharks
- 2 sandbar sharks
- 3 nurse sharks
- 2 largetooth sawfish
- 1 roughtail stingray
- The following species were no-shows, so does anyone know if the aquarium still keeps them
- Eastern spiny softshell turtle
- American bullfrog
- Horn shark
- Blue-crowned Motmot(sign has been removed from UTRF)
- Olive python(sign has been removed from Australia Wild Extremes since last time I was there)
- Humphead wrasse
Click to expand...

A few shark clarifications:

In Blacktip Reef, true to a shark pecking order, the blacktips continue to bully the smaller individuals and a few encounters have led to those sharks being pulled from exhibit and placed behind the scenes

As for Shark Alley, there are three crevalle jacks and one horse eye jack.
 
@NAIB Volunteer, a few things to clarify.
1. You are right some of the blacktips were removed from the exhibit. The exhibit started with 20 sharks, 8 males and 12 females. The females were all sent away to other aquariums. The males remained on exhibit and by now, they are all quite elderly and three have died of natural attrition over the years.
2. I was unaware the aquarium has a horse-eye jack, it is unsigned and I’ve never noticed it before, is it new?
3. What happened to the blue-crowned motmot? I know he has been at the aquarium for a while and most small birds don’t live super long so I’m not surprised if he died…
 
Kevin2342 said:
@NAIB Volunteer, a few things to clarify.
1. You are right some of the blacktips were removed from the exhibit. The exhibit started with 20 sharks, 8 males and 12 females. The females were all sent away to other aquariums. The males remained on exhibit and by now, they are all quite elderly and three have died of natural attrition over the years.
2. I was unaware the aquarium has a horse-eye jack, it is unsigned and I’ve never noticed it before, is it new?
3. What happened to the blue-crowned motmot? I know he has been at the aquarium for a while and most small birds don’t live super long so I’m not surprised if he died…
Click to expand...

There were 10 males and 10 females for the blacktips

The horseye has been on exhibit for years

The motmot did not return to the exhibit post Rainforest renovation.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
There were 10 males and 10 females for the blacktips

The horseye has been on exhibit for years

The motmot did not return to the exhibit post Rainforest renovation.
Click to expand...
Ok, I may have been wrong on the exact male-female ratio of the blacktips but close enough. But I have heard from a lot of people as mentioned before, that the females were sent away because they were not getting along and the rest of the males died over the years of natural attrition. Blacktip Reef sharks really only live around 10 years and the exhibit opened in 2013, so the remaining five sharks are at least 10 years old by now, maybe even older depending how old they were when the aquarium got them
 
Kevin2342 said:
Ok, I may have been wrong on the exact male-female ratio of the blacktips but close enough. But I have heard from a lot of people as mentioned before, that the females were sent away because they were not getting along and the rest of the males died over the years of natural attrition. Blacktip Reef sharks really only live around 10 years and the exhibit opened in 2013, so the remaining five sharks are at least 10 years old by now, maybe even older depending how old they were when the aquarium got them
Click to expand...

The females left because they're bigger and more aggressive and the exhibit couldn't hold 20 sharks (18 by the time they decided to move the remaining females). The aggression stopped for a time but with fewer sharks now, the weakest ones are getting picked on more frequently.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
The females left because they're bigger and more aggressive and the exhibit couldn't hold 20 sharks (18 by the time they decided to move the remaining females). The aggression stopped for a time but with fewer sharks now, the weakest ones are getting picked on more frequently.
Click to expand...
Yes, I’ve heard about that too and that’s not a surprise, because they all have a pecking order with some sharks dominant over the others despite being an all-male school.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top