WINTER 2015
LETTER FROM OUR CEO
The Texas State Aquarium is
Proud Partners with:
Greetings
Members And Friends, It has been a frenzied fall here at the Aquarium; in addition to ongoing Caribbean Wing construction and our lobby expansion, which caused us to relocate our admissions area, we took down AMAZON, and in its place premiered our newest temporary exhibition, Saving Sharks. I hope you have had a chance to experience this interactive new program. While we have shared wildlife conservation challenges in previous exhibitions, such as the plight of illegal animal smuggling out of the Amazon region, Saving Sharks is the first exhibition that focuses exclusivley on the conservation of a particular group of animals. Everybody knows something about sharks thanks to their popularity in documentaries and other films. Many Baby Boomers, myself included, recall the 1971 classic Blue Water, White Death. Since then: dozens and dozens of movies have leveraged our fear of these amazing animals; Snow Shark, Swamp Shark, Ghost Shark, Super Shark, Sharknado, and of course, Jaws.
TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM • WINTER 2015
Unfortunately, sharks have much more to fear from us. Scientists estimate that over 100,000 sharks are killed every day, many ending up as unwanted bycatch, or, simply killed for their fins. Sharks and rays are slow to mature and only produce a few young, making them highly susceptible to overfishing. As apex predators, sharks play a critical role in the marine food web, and unless we act quickly, many species will likely go extinct in the coming years. You can learn more about sharks, what scientists at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies are discovering about them, and what each of us can do to help save these incredible fishes.
Tom Schmid President and CEO
AQUARIUM NEWS
DON’T FEAR THE FIN
SAVING SHARKS AT THE TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM
T
he scariest thing about sharks is not their razor sharp teeth, their horrifying efficiency as apex predators, nor their (misrepresented) reputation as maneaters – it’s the fact that they’re disappearing from our oceans to the terrifying tune of an estimated 100,000 per day. Saving Sharks, the Texas State Aquarium’s newest exhibit, aims to inform, excite, and capture the hearts and minds of would-be conservationists and lifelong shark fans, alike. Along with OCEARCH, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Harte Research Institute (HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi, the Texas State Aquarium is proud to present Saving Sharks to you and your family. We opened the exhibit amid fanfare and media Tuesday, October 13. Children from local elementary schools and OCEARCH crew members assisted during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Being a large component of the exhibit, OCEARCH members were also on hand to launch their Expedition Gulf of Mexico in the following weeks. The shark research
and tracking organization has partnered with the HRI and Dr. Greg Stunz to track gulf sharks like the Tiger, Mako, and Hammerhead in order to learn more about their habitats, physiology, and migration patterns between the United States, Cuba, and Mexico. Organizations like OCEARCH help us to better study sharks currently swimming. OCEARCH is a non-profit organization and leader in open source data collection and research concerning Great whites and other apex predators. OCEARCH is able to bring live shark tracking straight to your fingertips via the Internet and their Global Shark Tracker, featured in Saving Sharks. Follow majestic creatures like Katherine, the 14-foot Great white who has swum over 15,000 miles in the two years since she was tagged, or cruise alongside Sam Houston, the 10-foot long Tiger shark tagged off the coast of Port Aransas last summer. OCEARCH plays a critical role in providing scientific information necessary in tracking and measuring shark species across the globe, helping to lead and better steer conservation efforts.
Some of the first identified sharks that OCEARCH ever tracked were tagged by Corpus Christi’s own Dr. Greg Stunz of the HRI. Stunz was one of the first grantees to benefit from the Texas State Aquarium’s Wildlife Care, Conservation, and Research Fund. Stunz’s main project focus was to gain a better understanding of shark migration patterns in the Gulf of Mexico, which the Gulf of Mexico Expedition, referred to on social media as #ExpeditionGoMex, will help accomplish. There is also a live touch tank area where visitors can see and feel whitespotted bamboo, horn, and epaulette sharks, view wobbegongs and zebra sharks, and even stand inside a life-sized underwater diving cage - it’s a shark showcase that’s sure to excite and engage every member of the family! Take a dive into the underwater world of Saving Sharks and together we can join fins and work to conserve these beautiful and fascinating fish!
WINTER 2015 • TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM
AQUARIUM NEWS AN CARIBBEEY JOURN TION UC CONSTR
UPDATE
Construction of the Caribbean Journey wing continues to progress rapidly as the building continues to rise from ground level up.
The second level floor of the new addition, which supports the shark exhibit and other aquariums, is finished, as is the third level. On the third level, crews are building the forms which will house the tropical jungle habitat. Next spring, the concrete frame of the Caribbean Journey wing should be largely complete.
Looking down into what will be the coral reef in the new Caribbean Journey wing.
The next phase of construction will include the complex task of installing all of the mechanical systems, including plumbing, electrical systems, air conditioning, heating, and the life support systems for all of the new aquariums. Next will come the installation of the exhibits, the massive acrylic viewing windows, and hundreds of plants, as well as the commissioning of the aquarium systems and adding natural seawater. Finally, the birds, reptiles, and thousands of new fish will be introduced into their new homes before the Caribbean Journey addition opens to the public in 2017.
The Caribbean Journey’s 40,000-gallon shark exhibit will be a great part of the new wing.
YOUR AQUARIUM
AQUARIUM HELPS SAVE & RE-HOME ANIMALS FROM LOCAL PET STORE We hate that it had to happen, but we were happy to help. In early October, the Aquarium was able to take in a number of specimens, including angelfish, guppies, sea stars, and even an emaciated cat shark from the Aquarium Masters store on Saratoga Boulevard after the owner was arrested and the animals were left without care for a number of days. These once neglected animals are now in the care of our experienced professionals who will ensure they live long, healthy lives. A number of them have come to be on display at our exhibits, such as our newest exhibit, Saving Sharks, where you can see and even touch some of the rescued carpet sharks. Some animals have also been placed at our exhibits inside Gloria Hicks Elementary School to help educate and excite young learners about fish and other various marine life.
TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM • WINTER 2015
CURRENT EVENTS
CURRENT
EVENTS Scuba Santa Returns
Beginning Saturday, December 12, the Aquarium welcomed back SCUBA Santa! The jolly man in red will be featured during our ‘Diver in the Water’ presentations at our Flower Gardens exhibit from the 12th through Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24.
Aquarium Now At The Farmers Market Tamu Massif Expedition Completed
The Aquarium is happy to now be a fixture at the Corpus Christi Downtown Farmers Market! Please stop by our table the last Wednesday of the month from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Corpus Christi Arts Center to learn about different aspects of the Aquarium and to meet an animal ambassador.
W Wild Flight Team To Raise Chickens The Aquarium’s Wild Flight team has added six new chickens to its bird and mammal family. The silkie and barred rock chickens are being raised up from chicks and will one day be part of the Wild Flight presentations.
Seafood Wars
Aquarium Manager of Outreach & Distance Learning Suraida Nanez-James returned earlier last month from her expedition to the Pacific Ocean, where she worked alongside scientists mapping the world’s single largest volcano, TAMU Massif. The underwater geological phenomenon has been the main focus of expedition leader and lead scientist Dr. William Sager of the University of Houston for nearly 25 years. Nanez-James was chosen as blogger, multimedia journalist, and classroom connector for the 36-day trip, where the team sailed the R/V Falkor hundreds of miles east of Japan and mapped the volcano for the first time in history. To learn more about what the TAMU Massif is about, please click here.
The next installment of the Aquarium’s popular Seafood Wars event is slated for Tuesday, January 12. Grow Local South Texas will be providing competing chefs with a bounty of winter veggies to cook along with their chosen seafood dish – yum! Stay tuned to our social media channels so you don’t miss out on tickets – the last two have been total sell-outs!
WINTER 2015 • TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM
AQUARIUM NEWS
WCCR SPOTLIGHT
2015 Wildlife Care, Conservation, and Research
Fund Recipients
The Aquarium is proud to announce its 2015 Wildlife Care, Conservation, and Research Fund Recipients. Each year, the Aquarium awards funding to programs that focus on habitat restoration, wildlife management, conservation, and wildlife rehabilitation in the Gulf of Mexico. Projects must focus on species in the Aquarium’s living collection or habitats that support those species. Aquarium Vice President of Education and Conservation Leslie Peart said, “The Aquarium is pleased to support this select group of scientists and conservation managers who aim to save important Gulf species and habitats of concern. We look forward to sharing their methods and results with visiting families and school groups through special exhibits and learning programs throughout the year.” Sharks with Spectators III – Real-time, Global Tracking of Texas’ Marine Apex Predators for Science, Education, and Research Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi – Harte Research Institute / Greg Stunz and Matt Ajemian This project will build upon the work Dr. Stunz’s team completed with WCCR funds in 2013 and 2014. Project scientists will tag and track large sharks. Information concerning the animals’ current locations and past movements will be sent to the Coastal Bend and global community, allowing for outreach and education opportunities and better understanding of declining shark populations. The shark tagging and tracking work Dr. Stunz and his team have done with OCEARCH are featured in the Aquarium’s Saving Sharks exhibit that opened in October 2015. Waters for Wildlife: Monitoring the Use of Freshwater Ponds by Wintering Whooping Cranes San Antonio Bay Partnership / Kiersten Stanzel This project will monitor the use of freshwater ponds by wintering Whooping Cranes in order to understand their use of freshwater ponds during periods of drought and assist in their recovery from endangered species status. The last wild population of Whooping Cranes winter in and around Aransas National Wildlife Refuge north of Corpus Christi, Texas. This project is a follow-up to a project that received 2013 WCCR funding for creation of a man-made pond for Whooping cranes. Genetic Composition of Immature Kemp’s Ridley Turtles in the Gulf of Mexico USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center / Margaret Lamont This project will examine genetic composition of immature Kemp’s Ridley assemblages in the Gulf of Mexico and develop a library of genetic information to link wild-caught and headstarted turtles. This library can be used to fill the knowledge gaps about immature Kemp’s Ridley that continue to hamper the recovery of the species.
Improving Oso Creek/Bay, Corpus Christi Bay and Petronila Creek Water Quality Texas State University – Meadows Center / Meredith Miller This project will utilize the South Texas Regional Stream Team to work on improving water quality and riparian/aquatic habitats in Oso Creek, Oso Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, and Petronila Creek, all of which are on Texas’ 303(d) list of impaired water bodies for not meeting contact recreation water quality standards. The South Texas Regional Stream Team is a motivated group of citizen scientists who were trained to collect water quality data and remove trash from the bays and creeks. They will also engage the community in stewardship activities, including quarterly trash cleanups and the Texas Stream Team Monofilament Finders Project. Optimizing Coral Fragmentation Technique for Propagation University of Texas at Austin / Mikhail Matz This project will focus on optimizing a fragmentation technique to propagate coral stock for reef restoration. It is a follow-up to a study funded by WCCR in 2014 examining biological indicators that could be used to evaluate the risk of infectious outbreak at the Flower Garden Banks, as well as other Caribbean reefs. Mapping Spotted Trout Spawning Habitat in Mission Aransas NERR University of Texas Marine Science Institute / Brad Erisman This project will feature cooperative research with recreational anglers to map spawning habitat of spotted trout in MissionAransas National Estuarine Research Reserve. The spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) is one of the most important and iconic sportfishes in Texas, yet nothing is known about the distribution of spawning habitats of spouted seatrout in Texas or how they overlap with seagrass beds, artificial reefs and oil/gas platforms, navigation channels, managed areas, and important recreational areas. Such information would be beneficial to the management of the fishery, regional ecosystem monitoring programs, and recreational anglers looking to maximize fishing opportunities and experiences. Migrating Monarch Butterflies’ Use of Offshore Oil Platforms University of Texas Marine Science Institute / Tracy Villareal
WILDLIFE CARE, CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH FUND
Click here for more information.
TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM • WINTER 2015
This project will develop an app for use by citizen scientists to assess the use of offshore structures and vessels by migrating Monarch butterflies.
SECOND CHANCES
Know how you write a list to Santa every year? So do we!
We want the very best for our animals and we love to give them educational and enrichment-based treats and items in addition to their normal diets and routines, and we are turning to you, our generous community, visitors, and fans, to help us fill their stockings extra full this year! We’ve put together a Holiday Wish List from our Second Chances Wildlife Rehabilitation Program, and we would greatly appreciate any help you can give! If you would like to donate, please call our Second Chances Hotline at 361-881-1210, or drop off your donation at our Second Chances Hospital, located at 4230 Rincon Road, Corpus Christi, TX. 78402. Click here for more information.
BATH TOWELS (in good shape, with no ragged edges) They are used to pad animals’ enclosures, to help dry them, and to keep them warm.
WELDING GLOVES Handling animals safely is important for our staff AND our animals! Thick welding gloves help keep all members of the hospital safe.
ANIMAL FOOD DISHES (all sizes) From pelicans to baby ducklings, and more – we need animal food dishes of all sizes to accommodate the various species that come through the Second Chances Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital.
SWIFFER WET MOPPING PADS Again, with so many animals around and the need to keep enclosures and floors clean, we are always in need of cleaning supplies!
INCUBATOR (ALL SIZES) Many birds - all of varying maturity levels – come through the hospital. Sometimes we receive recent hatchlings that still require the heat of an incubator to keep them healthy and to help them grow.
AJAX DISH SOAP Cleaning up after and handling lots of animals requires a LOT of hand washing!
SIBLEY’S BIRD BOOKS Author David Sibley is known for his highly-detailed, extremely informative and KIDDIE POOLS (used or new) Animals like sea turtles, pelicans, laughing gulls, spoonbills, and more need access to water and we want to make their environment at the hospital as close to their natural habitat as possible. Giving them access to water via kiddie pools is a great way to do so!
comprehensive guides to North American birds and the Aquarium would love to own as many of his books as possible.
WINTER 2015 • TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM
CALENDAR
DECEMBER 12/12 - 12/24 SCUBA SANTA
JANUARY 1/12 SEAFOOD WARS Join us for our next installment of our popular Seafood Wars series, where local chefs compete to see who can come up with the best fish dish and
SCUBA Santa will be featured during our ‘Diver in the
everyone wins!
Water’ presentations at our Flower Gardens exhibit.
END OF JANUARY
Click here for show times.
12/16 Homeschool
Pardon our dust! We will begin a renovation of our Floating Phantoms exhibit to bring you more species Into the Abyss! Pressure, bizarre creatures and alien landscapes are what you will find when exploring the deep sea. Through hands-on and video-based exploration students will investigate adaptations for survival in the abyss and learn how researchers use technology to explore these dark and unknown ocean regions. Morning sessions are 9:30 a.m. – 11:3o a.m. and afternoon sessions are 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
and to improve upon our existing exhibit space.
FEBRUARY
12/23 Farmer’s Market Don’t miss our 5th annual Valentine’s Day dinner! Join us for a romantic evening under the sea with delicious food and a one-of-a-kind setting only the Texas State Aquarium can provide.
MARCH
The Aquarium will be at the Downtown Corpus Christi’s Farmers Market from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The Aquarium will be CLOSED Christmas Day.
3/12 – 3/20 SPRING BREAK
3/12 – 3/20: Aquarium Spring Break hours will be 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. 3/12 – 3/19, and go to 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, 3/20. The Aquarium’s Splash Park will also reopen during certain hours for Spring Break. The Aquarium’s Spring Break Camp will be 3/14 – 3/18. Stay tuned for more details as they become
TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM • WINTER 2015
Hours of Operation Summer Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday – Sunday (begins March 1)
Winter Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Sunday (begins Labor Day)
Our Mission Connecting people with nature and inspiring conservation of the Gulf of Mexico. Our Vision To be a nationally-recognized Aquarium leader in creating entertaining, educationally-enriching programming; conducting wildlife rehabilitation; and supporting conservation. How To Contact Us: Accounting (361) 881-1286 Admissions (361) 881-1230 Donations & Development (361) 881-1324 Education & SeaCamp (361) 881-1204 Executive Offices (361) 881-1200 Event Rentals (361) 881-1244 General Information (361) 881-1200 Gift Shop (361) 881-1232 Group Reservations (361) 881-1307 Guide Office (361) 881-1250 Injured Animal (361) 881-1210 Membership (361) 881-1340 Shoreline Grill (361) 881-1239 Volunteers (361) 881-1381
2/14 Valentine’s Day dinner
and the cost is $12 per student and $5 per parent.
12/25 CHRISTMAS DAY
texasstateaquarium.org
available!
The Texas State Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA is America’s leading accrediting organization for zoos and aquariums, and accredits only those institutions that have achieved rigorous, professional standards for animal care and management, veterinary care, wildlife conservation and research, education, safety, staffing, and more. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is building North America’s largest wildlife conservation movement and is your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, visit www.aza.org. The Texas State Aquarium was designated as a Coastal America Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center in 1998. Coastal America combines the resources of federal agencies with marine educational centers. The mutual partnership extends to involving communities in protection, preservation, and restoration projects throughout the Nation.