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LETTER FROM OUR CEO CORPORATE PARTNERS
GREETINGS MEMBERS AND FRIENDS I hope you had a great summer and took time to enjoy your aquarium membership. The ongoing support of members at the Texas State Aquarium continues to be vital as we move into the future. Your membership helps support a variety of conservation programs at your aquarium, such as our Wildlife Rescue program. This summer, we marked another milestone for our rescue program when we released nine endangered sea turtles from four different species back into their natural habitat. This landmark release of Kemp’s ridley, green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles was the first time we’ve treated and released four different sea turtle species at one time. Support from members like you is vital to our efforts to rehabilitate and release sea turtles and shorebirds. So far this year we have cared for over 1,000 turtles and 150 birds, and we have released more than 1,100 of these turtles and birds back into their native habitat. When you become part of the Texas State Aquarium, your support helps sustain all of our programming, from state-of-the-art animal care and wellness, to wildlife rescue, to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)-focused environmental education. In addition, your support helps fund our Wildlife Care, Conservation, and Research programs that provides funding to scientists who are conducting research to help save animals from extinction. In addition, with your support, we are funding a new scholarship at the Harte Research Institute (HRI) at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi. This scholarship, focused on students studying Biodiversity and Conservation Science and created in honor of HRI co-founder Dr. John “Wes” Tunnell Jr., will help the next generation of Gulf scientists reach their academic goals. Allison Flooring America American Bank CC General & Implant Dentistry Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation Devary Durrill Foundation Gowland, Strealy, Morales & Company Labatt Food Service NuStar Energy Occidental Chemical Corporation Pattern Gulf Wind, LLC Republic Services, Inc. Sico, Hoelscher, Harris & Braugh L.L.P Western Steel Co.
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As you know, your Texas State Aquarium membership provides wonderful benefits, such as allowing you to visit the aquarium as often as you like throughout the year. In addition, your membership provides you with discounts to visit many other zoos and aquariums across the nation. While your membership benefits you, the aquarium also greatly benefits from you being a member. For all of these reasons and more, thank you for being a member of the Texas State Aquarium. I look forward to your continued support, so that together, we can engage people with animals, inspire appreciation for our seas, and support wildlife conservation.
Tom Schmid President and CEO FALL 2018
animal spotlight
CH A M P THE THREE-FLIPPERED FIGHTER
CHAMP MAY ONLY HAVE THREE-FLIPPERS, BUT THAT’S HARDLY SLOWED DOWN THIS RESILIENT KEMP’S RIDLEY SEA TURTLE! Champ was named by Aquarium staff for the incredible odds this young turtle has overcome. When Champ was first found in September of last year, it was missing a flipper and was severely dehydrated. Its chances didn’t look good, but true to its name, Champ fought its way back to a healthy state with the help of our Wildlife Rescue team. Since its first day at the Rescue Center, Champ has grown 20 times in weight and is recovering the ability to swim and eat. Recently, Champ was moved to the Coral Reef exhibit for the next stage of its physical therapy and rehabilitation. Here, it will work on swimming and diving
in deeper waters, with the goal of releasing this endangered sea turtle back into its natural habitat. Champ will be monitored in the following months for further progress. If the Aquarium and partnering conservation organization believe Champ is ready to live outside a protective environment, a plan to release this turtle back into its natural habitat will be put into place. To learn more about the Texas State Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue Center and its work saving endangered sea turtles, visit: www.texasstateaquarium.org/turtlerescue.
P BY LS LIKE CHAM HELP ANIMA RIUM! O THE AQUA DONATING T aquarium.org/support www.texasstate
FALL 2018
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AQUARIUM NEWS
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AQUARIUM NEWS On July 14, we were thrilled and honored to join our conservation partners Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) to celebrate 40 years of sea turtle conservation. After an early morning release of several hundred Kemp’s ridley hatchlings, we shared with guests how they can help save sea turtles at an informational booth. Later in the day, guests got another upclose look at rescued sea turtles as four green sea turtles that were treated at our Wildlife Rescue Center were released back into their natural habitat. To cap things off, our sea turtle mascot Tiki, had a dance-off with mascots from PINS and Gladys Porter Zoo (it was a three-way tie). Don’t forget to follow our social media pages for the latest news on the sea turtle releases and our partnerships with conservation organizations like PINS and others.
Aqua-demics This summer marked the successful completion of the first college course held at the Aquarium. A Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) entitled “Texas State Aquarium Animal Care Operations – a Look at Conservation, Welfare and Research,” was held onsite and gave a few lucky students an interactive
FALL 2018
and behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to care the more than 460+ species that call the Aquarium home. At the end of the class, each student presented their own idea on an animal xhibit and got some feedback from Aquarium staff. We’re excited to see how these students take their newfound knowledge of aquarium operations
Photo courtesy of TAMUCC
into their future careers, and we look forward to exploring other ways to strengthen education and awareness of research and wildlife conservation in our community. To learn more about the Aquarium’s contributions to education, visit www.texasstateaquarium.org/ educate.
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AQUARIUM NEWS
WILD WELCOME
Several exciting new animals have moved into the Aquarium since our last edition of STAR! Meet the furry, feathered, and fishy friends that recently joined the Aquarium family.
Reina
Chico
Spotted Eagle Ray
Linnaeus’s Two-Toed Sloth
Reina, whose name is Spanish for “queen” has been swimming among the sharks, stingrays and shipwreck of the H-E-B Caribbean Sea since last June. Reina is easily recognizable by the bright spots on her back as well as her protruding snout, which some say resembles an eagle’s beak.
This adorable male two-toed sloth joined his fellow sloth Xena in the jungle just last May. Chico is approximately one year old, and arrived in January from a facility in Michigan. Like Xena, Chico will roam throughout the Caribbean jungle, so keep your eyes peeled for this gentle, slow-moving creature on your next visit.
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Mr. Screams Crested Screamer
This beautiful bird will be exhibited alternately in Caribbean Journey’s Karst Pool and the Toby Shore Family Blue Hole Overlook exhibits. Mr. Screams, which took his name from his former keepers at Phoenix Zoo, is a member of the same family as ducks and geese, buy he tends to prefer dry land over water.
FALL 2018
aquarium news
CONTRIBUTING TO CONSERVATION $74,000 Goes to Fund Wildlife Research Last month we selected the winners of our Wildlife Care, Conservation, and Research Fund (WCCR) 2018 Small Grants Competition. These intrepid scientists and conservationists will receive a share of $74,000 in grants to support their important work. This year’s fund will support the work of scientists that are tracking green sea turtles, studying harmful diseases in Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, monitoring Texas coastal sport fisheries and following the movements of tagged sharks, among other projects.
THANK YOU TO CHENIERE ENERGY FOR UNDERWRITING THE
MESOAMERICAN COARL REEF EXHIBIT
FALL 2018
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WILDLIFE RESCUE
GREEN HAWKSBILL
NINE RESCUED SEA TURTLES R E T URN TO THE O CE AN
Alexandra Little, Senior Wildlife Care Specialist at the Aquarium’s Willdife Rescue Center, carried a large turquoise box carefully down a marine dock and gently placed the container inside a waiting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department boat. Lying inside this box, and several others, was some seriously precious cargo: nine rescued green sea turtles. These marine reptiles, representing four different species, were on the last leg of their voyage towards home, the Gulf of Mexico. But their story might
have ended on a lonely stretch of beach, if not for the dedication and hard work of Little, her colleagues at the Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue Center, and the Aquarium’s conservation partners. When these hawksbill, green, loggerhead, and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles arrived at the Wildlife Rescue Center last spring, staff quickly got to work treating their various injuries and ailments, ranging from dehydration to lethargy. After these animals were stabilized, they realized they’d reached another landmark in the Rescue Center’s storied history. This was the first time in the Aquarium’s nearly 30year history that they’d treated four different sea turtle species at the same time. Each species came with its own challenges, but over several months of care and attention, these sea turtles slowly regained the ability to swim and eat on their own. Now, armed with these reacquired skills, these sea turtles were back on track to begin the rest of their lives. At this point in their lives, these young sea turtles would have moved to the open ocean, where they feed and shelter in floating sargassum beds. To get them there, Aquarium staff called their friends at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, who graciously
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FALL 2018
WILDLIFE RESCUE
LOGGERHEAD
offered a Texas Game Warden boat along with two game wardens to assist with transport and logistics. On a sunny Friday afternoon, the turtles were loaded up, transported to the docks, and rescue staff and turtles motored away towards the open ocean.
KEMP’S RIDLEY
sea turtle was gently placed into the ocean, where natural instinct took over immediately. They each paddled away, seemingly eager to begin the next phase of their lives. We wish them the best on their journey! To learn more about our turtle rescue program, visit: www.texasstateaquarium.org/turtlerescue
Finally, a perfect spot was found approximately 10 miles out to sea. Each
This was the first time in the Aquarium’s nearly 30-year history they’d treated four different sea turtle species at the same time. Each species came with its own challenges, but over several months of care and attention, these sea turtles slowly regained the ability to swim and eat on their own.
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E D U C AT I O N & CO N S E R VAT I O N
Summer Beyond the Sea SEACAMP 2018 EDUCATES AND ENGAGES OVER 700 CHILDREN What did you do last summer? It’s the question countless students hear on their first day back at school - whether from an inquisitive friend or as the subject of their first essay. For the 787 children who attended SeaCamp, the answer could include exploring the ocean’s fascinating creatures, conducting conservation field work, building a model bridge and even kayaking and surfing, among a host of other adventures. Thanks to the generosity of several donors, the Aquarium was able to award a scholarship to 226 children that might otherwise not been able to attend a week of SeaCamp. The Aquarium is grateful to Valero, Coastal Bend Community Foundation, Navy Army Community Credit Union, and the Perrin Family for contributing toward the SeaCamp Scholarship Fund. During SeaCamp’s weekly June through August sessions, campers who ranged from Pre-K all the way up to 12th grade embarked on a wide variety of immersive educational journeys catered to their age group. Whether it was making discoveries around the Gulf Coast or exploring the vibrant jungles of the Yucatán Peninsula, SeaCampers of all ages could step into the shoes of an explorer, an environmental protector or a scientist and come away with not just plenty of memories, but with new knowledge and STEM skills. Ultimately, SeaCamp is designed to allow these young ocean explorers to not just have fun, but to be empowered to reach their potential. Unique experiences like animal encounters, field excursions and hands-on experiments keep SeaCampers minds and imaginations active, and hopefully, inspire them to help conserve wildlife and their habitats.
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Thank you to our our SeaCamp 2018 sponsors! Valero Energy Foundation Coastal Bend Community Foundation Navy Army Community Credit Union Damon Perrin Family Anonymous SeaCamp will return next summer. Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for registration in Spring of 2019! FALL 2018
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SEP 27
DEAF AWARENESS DAY
OCT 16
SEAFOOD WARS Hours of Operation Fall Hours Monday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
In commemoration of National Deaf Awareness Week, come discover the Aquarium in a modified environment catered to guests who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and their families/ caregivers. To purchase tickets at a discounted rate, email Ann Vlach at avlach@txstateaq.org.
SEP 28
4 ANNUAL MINI GULF CLASSIC i
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OCT 27
BOO! IN THE BLUE: PRESENTED BY FLINT HILLS RESOURCES
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Competitive cooking meets conservation in this interactive and delicious event. Sample sustainable amberjack dishes from talented chefs, vote for a winning recipe, and learn about sustainable seafood. Purchase tickets at www.texasstateaquarium.org/seafoodwars
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October – May: Closed for the season (Exact dates subject to change)
How To Contact Us: Accounting (361) 881-1286 Admissions (361) 881-1230 Donations & Development (361) 881-1340 Education (361) 881-1204 Event Rentals (361) 881-1244 General Information (361) 881-1200
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Gift Shop (361) 881-1232
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H-E-B Splash Park
Group Reservations (361) 653-2602 Naturalist Office (361) 881-1250 Injured Animal (361) 881-1210
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Join us for a night of mini golf at the Aquarium! This event is presented by Borden Insurance and Andrews Distributing and is organized by the Aquarium’s young professional group, the Rising Tide Society. This is a 21+ event. For tickets and more information, please call 361-881-2612 or visit www.texasstateaquarium.org/minigulf.
SEP 30
ANIMAL SCIENCE EXPLORATION PROGRAM Do you dream of working with animals? At this special after-hours event, you’ll get an in-depth look at what it takes to care for our otters and dolphins first-hand while getting a tour from our animal caretakers! Sign up at: www.texasstateaquarium.org/asep
FALL 2018
Membership (361) 881-1341 Pepsi Shoreline Grill (361) 881-1239 Mark your calendar and dress in your Halloween best, then join us for plenty of fun, educational, and family-friendly Halloween activities during our yearly Halloween celebration: Boo! In the Blue. Learn more at www.texasstateaquarium.org/boo
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Volunteers (361) 881-1381 Wildlife Rescue (361) 881-1210 The Texas State Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
MEMBERS-ONLY KIDS CLUB It’s the perfect time of year to be thankful and give back! Join us for Kids Club as our youngest members create “enrichment” gifts to share with our animals. Call (361) 881-1204 to register!
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1235 Corpus Christi, TX
IN THIS ISSUE
Meet the Aquarium’s newest furry, feathered, and fishy friends!
Discover how we treated and released four different sea turtle species!
