Vancouver Aquarium Vancouver Aquarium News 2016-2017

TZFan

TZFan

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
New year, new thread. As always it will be interesting to hear more about the good work being done by the aquarium.
 
Loxodonta Cobra said:
Interesting. Certainly a mix new for me. What other marine mammal animals are mixed together at the aquarium?
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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
 
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.
 
Sad news..for much more on this person get his interesting autobiography "Life in a Fishbowl".
 
TZFan said:
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
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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.
 
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