FALL
2019
LETTER FROM OUR CEO CORPORATE PARTNERS
GREETINGS MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, With summer now behind us, we are focused on our plans for 2020 and beyond; however, before getting into that, I did want to share with you that our summer season was very strong. Attendance was up over 10 percent compared with 2018, and ticket sales surpassed even our record year in 2017. It has also been a very busy season for our Wildlife Rescue program. Through the end of July, our animal rescue team has cared for over 340 patients. About 150 of these were sea turtles that were rescued during the period of high winds and high tides this past spring. Fortunately, most of what the turtles needed, was some R&R, and almost all were released back into the Gulf by the end of July. This past summer, we were also involved in a much different animal rescue. In July, we accepted a shipment of endangered corals from the Florida Keys. A stony coral tissue loss disease has been spreading through the Florida Reef Tract, and last summer federal and state wildlife agencies, in a last-ditch effort, made the decision to authorize collection and relocation of a number of corals into aquariums around the Gulf. Because of our expertise and our newly-built coral lab, we were a natural choice. Through this project we hope to learn more about how to care for these corals both here at the Aquarium, and in the oceans. And now, back to 2020. Next year will mark our 30th anniversary, and we will be celebrating all year long. New programming in our changing exhibit gallery, including a special exhibit chronicling our growth, as well as the launch of our first ever Ocean Film Festival; this is just a sampling of what’s in store for you. We also plan to extend our “Aquarium After Dark” programming; thanks to all of you who came out to enjoy the evenings with us. These are just a few of the highlights you can look forward to. I’ll keep you posted as our plans firm up, meantime, enjoy the Aquarium this fall, and thank you for your support.
Tom Schmid President and CEO
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Allison Flooring America CC General & Implant Dentistry Devary Durrill Foundation Hicks Automotive Group Labatt Food Service NuStar Energy Occidental Chemical Corporation Pattern Gulf Wind, LLC Republic Services, Inc. SpawGlass Western Steel Co.
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ANIMAL SPOTLIGHT
stingrays “sea pancakes” The stingray is among the world’s most unique and fascinating animals, and these cartilaginous critters have frightened and fascinated people for generations. They’ve inspired misplaced anger in the news, such as when one was connected with the death of famed conservationist Steve Irwin, as well as admiration for their anatomy, with some on the Internet naming them “sea pancakes.” Stingrays may not look it, but they’re relatives to the shark, belonging to the same family known as “elasmobranchs.” Like their shark cousins, stingrays have skeletons made of cartilage, not bone. All the same, the stingray has evolved into an animal truly in a class of its own. Their flat bodies allow them to bury their bodies in the seabed, peering out with the eyes on top of their heads, where they can hide from predators or ambush prey. Rays have a challenge when eating however – their eyes and mouth are on opposite sides of their bodies. To get around this, stingrays have smell and electroreceptors on their underside which help them zero in on their next meal. More than half a dozen stingray species make the Aquarium their home, from the spotted eagle stingray (which guests may recognize as the “Mr. Ray’s” species from “Finding Nemo”) to the cownose stingray, which swims by flapping its fins like a bird. In certain areas of the Aquarium, guests can even touch stingrays! Each stingray in our touch pools has their barb trimmed by staff, a procedure as easy and painless as trimming a fingernail, so the stingray touch experience stays safe for human and stingray alike.
What does a stingray feel like? Stop by a touch pool on your next visit and find out for yourself!
FALL 2019
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LETTER FROM OUR CEO
Dr. Yaw examines “Champ,” a rescued Kemp’s ridley sea turtle slated for release back into its natural habitat.
THE WILD WORLD OF AN AQUARIUM VETERINARIAN
SURGERY ON A SEA TURTLE, X-RAYS ON A DOLPHIN AND ULTRASOUNDS ON A SHARK. IT’S ALL IN A DAY’S WORK FOR DR. TAYLOR YAW, HEAD VETERINARIAN AT THE TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM.
In a collaborative study with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Nature Conservancy in September, Dr. Yaw assisted with placing tags and performing ultrasounds on sharks.
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When animals at the Aquarium get sick or injured, Dr. Yaw and his staff are ready to respond. With more than 6,000 animals from over 420 species (none which can verbalize what they’re feeling), the job has some unique challenges… but plenty of rewards. We sat down with Dr. Yaw to learn a little more about his path to becoming a veterinarian. What made you decide to be a veterinarian? I grew up on a family farm in Nebraska and cared for several different animal species growing up. Right after high school, I started as a summer zookeeper at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium with great apes, sea lions and elephants. It was during this summer that I met and shadowed a zoo veterinarian. The first patient I saw with this veterinarian was a shark in which he performed an ultrasound and collected a blood sample for diagnostic testing. I was completely blown away by the high-level medical care that was provided to the animals at the zoo and immediately started pursuing the path to become a veterinarian. FALL 2019
What do you enjoy about being a veterinarian for zoos and aquariums? Getting to play a major role in the daily healthcare of the amazing animals kept in professional care at zoos and aquariums is a dream job. There is never a dull moment and with such a diversity of species, there is something new to learn every day. One of the most fun aspects of my day is modifying equipment to fit our patients. You can’t just go to the store to get dental tools for sea urchins or an anesthesia facemask for a toucan. We spend a lot of time “MacGyvering” medical equipment and get the opportunity to build devices to utilize in aquatic environments. Do zoo and aquarium veterinarians also help animals in the wild? Yes, I have had the opportunity to take the skill set and knowledge that I have obtained working in zoos and aquariums to be a part of several field conservation projects, including being a part of a veterinary anesthesia team in Belize working with wild tapirs. I have also had several opportunities to complete research projects on the diverse species to advance veterinary medicine and have a direct impact on the conservation of these species. What are you looking forward to most about working at the Aquarium? I’m very excited to be a part of the Texas State Aquarium family. In recent years, aquatic veterinary medicine has made major advancements and I am looking forward to continuing to provide toptier medical care for our animals. I am also extremely excited to be a part of the Texas State Aquarium Wildlife Rescue Center. Being able to directly assist with the medical care, rehabilitation process and then release of wild animals is the reason I became a veterinarian.
Dr. Yaw checks on a sea turtle rehabilitating in the Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue Center.
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“Planet Earth II” is now playing at the Whataburger 4D Theater! “Planet Earth II” is the critically-acclaimed sequel to the groundbreaking series Planet Earth. The award-winning BBC series captures the vivid beauty of the natural world and delivers jaw-dropping action, bringing guests closer to the mesmerizing animal kingdom than ever before. Experience our planet from the viewpoint of animals themselves as bears, jaguars, eagles, iguanas and snakes overcome the challenges of surviving in the wildest places on Earth. From the snowcapped Alps to the dry forests of the equator, each iconic landscape offers intense beauty and extreme forces that shape the lives of its inhabitants. The BBC and BBC Earth are trademarks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under license. BBC logo © BBC 1996. © BBC Studios 2016.
As always, admission to this 4D Theater is free with admission or membership. Learn more at www.texasstateaquarium.org/4D.
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SAVING THE
REEFS Aquarium Joins National Coral Rescue Project
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t first glance, the boxes that arrived at the Aquarium’s delivery bay one summer afternoon might have been mistaken for any regular shipment, but what was inside was some truly irregular…and precious cargo.
Aquarium staff carefully transported each box inside to a behind-thescenes areas, opening each to reveal sections of bright coral, cushioned to survive their long journey from Florida. Moving quickly but carefully, each coral was placed in a large aquatic tank.
These several dozen corals, now residing at the Aquarium, are survivors of a deadly disease ravaging the “rainforests of the sea” off the coast of Florida. But they could also be key to helping this reef system one day recover. The Florida Reef Tract, the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, has been devastated by a stony-coral tissue loss disease, which has swept across nearly 100 miles of marine habitats, destroying whole sections of this underwater ecosystem. In July 2018, official decided to remove healthy corals that the disease had yet reached and keep them in land-based aquaria. This monumental undertaking would hopefully keep these corals, many which were on the Endangered Species List, from becoming infected. Members of the Associations of Zoos and Aquariums, including the Texas State Aquarium, were the only group believed to have the resources and expertise to play the role of coral caretakers in this unprecedented rescue effort. The AZA-Florida Reef
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Aquariust Alex Hirota and Senior VP and COO Jesse Gilbert open shipment containg rescued coral
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Here in this safe and sterile “ark,” Aquarium staff will keep a close eye on the coral, keeping them healthy and even allowing them opportunity to grow and propagate. Tract Rescue Project (AZA-FRTRP) was formed, and 5,000 coral specimens representing 22 species were retrieved from the reef, packed up and shipped off to the Texas State Aquarium and other accredited zoos and aquariums. Here in this safe and sterile “ark,” Aquarium staff will keep a close eye on the coral, keeping them healthy and even allowing them opportunity to grow and propagate. As reef-building species, these coral can do the most good back in their natural habitat. In time, if conditions in Florida improve, these corals could hopefully return home to not only thrive for themselves, but to foster the growth and recovery of Florida’s reef system.
Colpophyllia natans
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Madracis auretenra
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Dr. Katherine Hensley and Dr. Justin Hensley with guests
Texas Representative Todd Hunter and Texas State Aquarium President & CEO, Tom Schmid
“A Night at the Aquarium” Co-Chairs, Darcy Shroeder and Catherine Hilliard
Haley Bennett, Emily Campbell, Samantha Gates and Janie Bruun
Dolphin Presentation
Michael Skrobarczyk and Elizabeth Wolter and Jenny with Phillip Skrobarczyk
Live Auction
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Texas State Aquarium Board Chair, Julie Buckley and John Nelson
Chris Minnich and Phillip Ramirez
On September 20, the Aquarium hosted “A Night at the Aquarium…Beach Ball” to raise funds for a new a new Center for Wildlife Rescue, Recovery and Research. Guests enjoyed cocktail hour, gourmet dinner, a private dolphin presentation and a live auction, followed by music and dancing. Thank you to all of our donors, sponsors and guests who joined us to support wildlife conservation!
TAG TEAM
Texas State Aquarium rescue staff performs an ultrasound on a female bull shark.
Aquarium Joins Shark Tagging and Ultrasound Expedition As the line breaks the water, the distinctive shape of a shark can be seen on the hook. As the line reels further, the curved fin and sharp nose of the ocean’s apex predator come into focus. The crew hustles to the boat’s gunwale, hauling the monstrous fish onto the damp boat deck. It’s a bull shark, stretching more than four feet long. But this is no ordinary fishing expedition. The anglers on this boat, a diverse team of Texas State Aquarium staff and scientists from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and Nature Conservancy, aren’t catching these sharks for sport, but for science. And lucky for the sharks, these conservationists are strictly catch and release. Like a highly-trained pit-crew, scientists and Aquarium staff maneuver around the shark, weighing it and taking measurements. An acoustic tag is applied to its abdomen. And with that, the shark is placed overboard, where it quickly disappears into the blue.
With this ultrasound and tracking data, scientists hope to shed some more light on the shark, for its own protection. From movements, scientists can zero in on areas of the ocean that the shark travels. From the ultrasounds, they can determine when and where sharks breed. And with this, they can make better decisions about how to protect sharks – like where to place a marine reserve or restrict fishing. The knowledge they gain could also help people fear sharks less and turn their efforts to protecting the predator. In short, by knowing where individual sharks are, scientists hope that as a whole, they’ll never lose these amazing ocean animals.
But it’s not completely gone. The tag affixed to its fin will ping off of receivers, pinpointing the exact location of the shark as it traverses the ocean. Scientists on this expedition aren’t just looking at where sharks go, but also how they reproduce. As more sharks are reeled to the surface, they too are measured and weighed, and female sharks are also given ultrasounds. Placing the scanner against a bull shark, Head Veterinarian Dr. Taylor Yaw is amazed to see two baby sharks inside its womb. FALL 2019
A sonogram captured by Dr. Yaw’s ultrasound shows live baby sharks, still in the womb.
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hands-on experience in the skills and knowledge it takes to work in the field of wildlife rehabilitation. Campers in grades nine through 12 were also immersed in the scientific process by interacting with STEM professionals and developing original research projects. Our campers didn’t just learn a lot and had fun, they were inspired and empowered to make a difference, and left SeaCamp knowing how they too can be good environmental stewards and conservation leaders in their communities. In one shining example of SeaCamp’s impact, a parent shared with us that her son had enjoyed himself at the Aquarium so much this year that he could not wait to come back next year, and that he wants to try out other STEM camps too!
SeaCamp 2019 was a rousing success! I
n June, July and August, SeaCampers ages four through 18 joined us for week-long voyages of STEM discovery through the Texas State Aquarium’s exhibits and the Coastal Bend’s habitats. We balanced campers’ time between exploring the exhibits inside Texas State Aquarium, engaging in
interactive outdoor activities and taking field trips to various local ecosystems. Among other things, campers learned how animals have adapted to survive diverse habitats, the dangers they face in the wild and the myths and truths behind toothy predators. Campers also learned how to become skilled honorary animal rescuers, getting
Thanks to the generous support of the Coastal Ben Community Foundation, Valero, the Prichard Family Foundation and NavyArmy Community Credit Union, 223 children from the community received scholarships to attend SeaCamp. We are extremely grateful to our sponsors for helping us offer the SeaCamp experience to many deserving children.
Thank you to our Seacamp 2019 Scholarship Sponsors!
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FALL 2019
CALENDAR
OCT 22
SEAFOOD WARS
NOV 17 SENSORY SENSITIVE SUNDAY
Hours of Operation Fall Hours 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily H-E-B Splash Park Hours Closed for the season
It’s that time again! Seafood Wars will return as three chefs and winners of past contests will battle it out to prepare the most delicious dish of sustainable Atlantic sea scallops. Purchase tickets at www.texasstateaquarium.org/seafoodwars
OCT 26 BOO! IN THE BLUE
Sensory Sensitive Sundays are designed to provide an Aquarium experience tailored to the needs and comfort of local families facing the challenges of autism spectrum disorders and other sensory challenges. Learn more at www.texasstateaquarium.org/sensory
Contact Us: General Information (361) 881-1200 Development Office (361) 881-1340 Education & SeaCamp (361) 881-1204 Event Rentals (361) 881-1244
nov 20
homeschool Calling all Data Enthusiasts! Students will use a variety of tools and hands-on methods to collect information about animals and their habitats. Sign up at www.texasstateaquarium.org/homeschool
Group Reservations (361) 653-2602 Injured Animal (361) 881-1210 Membership (361) 881-1341 Volunteer Office (361) 881-1381 Wildlife Rescue and Recovery: (361) 881-1210 The Texas State Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
This not-so-spooky, family-friendly event will feature special animal enrichment sessions and dive shows, a Mad Science Lab, a costume contest, text scavenger hunt and more! All activities are included with admission or membership.
nov 25 & 26 mini-camp
NOV 9 5th Annual Putt Putt
OUR MISSION
and 19th Hole After Party - 21+ Event
To engage people with animals, inspire appreciation for our seas, and support wildlife conservation. Through the course of this conservation minicamp, campers will become STEM heroes and learn what skills and tools it takes to rescue, take care of and release animals back into their natural habitats. Sign up at www.texasstateaquarium. org/minicamp
FOLLOW US!
texasstateaquarium.org This event transforms the Aquarium into an 18-hole mini-golf course with holes throughout select indoor exhibits. Guests will enjoy putting challenges, a silent auction and live music at the 19th Hole After-Party. Sign up at www.texasstateaquarium.org/puttputt
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The Texas State Aquarium has proudly printed this magazine on 100% post-consumer Forestry Stewardship Council recycled paper.
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1235 Corpus Christi, TX
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