A PUBLICATION FROM THE TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM
MAGAZINE
WINTER
2017
LETTER FROM OUR CEO
CORPORATE PARTNERS
Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation Frost Gentry Co. Green Mountain Energy Orion Drilling Company, LLC Stripes ValueBank Texas Allison Flooring America American Bank CC General & Implant Dentistry Gowland, Strealy, Morales & Company LNV, Inc. 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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Greetings members and friendS Our region continues to work through the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. As I write this column, a number of our most popular hotels and resorts remain closed, and most of our operating hotels continue to be filled with emergency responders and contractors. Tourism, the lifeblood of many of our culture attractions, came to a grinding halt after the storm. However, I am confident that by next spring, the Coastal Bend region will once again welcome guests from all over the state of Texas. Leisure travelers make up the majority of the almost 600,000 guests that visited TSA in 2017. A recent study commissioned by the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau found that, next to the beaches, the Texas State Aquarium is the number one motivator for leisure travel to our area. And for our friends in the Rio Grande Valley region, the Aquarium actually surpasses our area beaches as the top draw. This tourism-related revenue, along with your membership contributions, allows us to operate the aquarium, and helps underwrite our educational programming and our Wildlife Rescue and Recovery Center. And speaking of our rehab center, since Harvey struck our area, we have seen a significant influx of patients. Currently we are caring for 30 shore and water birds and 11 juvenile marine turtles, including a tiny Kemp’s ridley hatchling that our team has affectionately named “Champ.” It’s been an exceptionally busy year for rescue and rehab; we have treated over 400 animal patients so far, a new record. Fortunately, our newly renovated and expanded rehab center came online shortly after Harvey hit. With the addition of new medical equipment, such as a surgical laser, we are now able to do procedures on site that would have previously required a visit to an off-site veterinary clinic. All this to say, during this time of giving thanks, a heartfelt thank you to all of you, our donors, our members and friends; your support makes such a difference for us and for the animals in our care. 2017 will end up being one of the most extraordinary, most memorable years for our institution. Some amazing highs, with the opening of Caribbean Journey, and some painful lows, as we witnessed the devastation of Harvey. With you all on our team, we will continue to great things for the people, and the wildlife of Texas.
Tom Schmid President and CEO
WINTER 2017
Your Aquarium
Animal Spotlight
FLAMINGO It’s hard to miss our flamingos in Caribbean Journey. With their bright pink feathers and gangly legs, this colorful flamboyance, as these birds are known as a group, serve as a vibrant welcoming party to Caribbean Journey. In this issue of the STAR’s Animal Spotlight, allow us to brighten your day with a few fun facts about flamingos. Flamingos get their pink color from pigments in their food called carotenoids. Without this special ingredient, flamingos would turn a paler white color. To forage for food, the flamingos may turn its head upside down and filter food through its beak. It may even hold its breath and stick its whole head underwater! Flamingos spend almost a third of their day preening, or cleaning their feathers. This covers their plumage in a special oil to help keep them warm and dry. A flamingo rests on one leg to help keep warm. Standing on only one leg means it loses less body temperature from being in cold water. Want to get pretty in pink with flamingos yourself? We’re now offering a chance to get to know these flamingos in a whole new way. In our Exclusive Encounters “Feed the Flock,” you can “flamingle” with these beautiful birds and some other feathered friends and even get to feed them. Members also get a special discount on all Exclusive Encounter tours and all proceeds go to benefit the Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue and Recovery Center. For more information, visit texasstateaquarium.org/exclusive-encounters
WINTER 2017
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AQUARIUM NEWS
Your Aquarium Gift Guide Looking for a unique and unforgettable gift for friends or family this holiday season? We’ve got you covered! From eye-opening behind-the-scenes tours to year-round admission to the Aquarium, you can give your loved ones the gift of discovery, adventure, and education. Check out of holiday gift guide for some great options to add to your shopping list.
Membership With twice as much to see and experience as the year before, now is a great time to become an Aquarium member, or better yet, give 12 months of memories to a loved one as a holiday gift. Membership pays for itself by the second visit, offering an incredible value for guests. It also offers discounts at our gift shop, Pepsi Shoreline Grill, and Café Aqua, discounts to special events throughout the year like Seafood Wars and SeaCamp, and much more! For more information and to purchase online please visit texasstateaquarium.org/member.
Gift Shop Have you ever wanted to take home your favorite animal from the Aquarium? Well in a way, now you can! Our gift shop contains thousands of items depicting ocean life, so you and your loved ones can always be reminded about your Aquarium experience and the incredible ocean life here. Even better, our gift shop is moving towards being plastic-free, and a portion of its proceeds go to support the Aquarium. So you’re not only scoring a great present for that special someone, you’re helping create a better future for the ocean.
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AQUARIUM NEWS
Pavers Most gifts have a temporary impact, but our custom pavers are not only permanent, they go to support a great cause. For a limited time, you can put your or a loved ones name on a paver that will be placed in our new Caribbean Journey Plaza, where it will serve as a lasting reminder of your important contribution to the Texas State Aquarium. For more information and to purchase a paver, please visit texasstateaquarium.org/pavers.
Exclusive Encounters Does someone you know ever wished they could feed a flamingo, touch an octopus, or get up-close and personal with a dolphin? With our new Exclusive Encounters, you can give that special someone the gift of a once-in-a-lifetime animal experience. Exclusive Encounters give you the chance to tour behind the scenes and interact with our bird, fish, or dolphin species. You’ll see how we care for each of our animals and participate in the feeding, enrichment, and even training sessions for these incredible species. For more information, visit texasstateaquarium.org/exclusive-encounters.
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s e o r e Superh e Sea of th
AQUARIUM NEWS
Scuba Santa Returns!
MINI-CAMP SAVES YOUR WINTER BREAK
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re you and your child planning on spending your Winter Break catching the latest superhero movie? At our Winter Mini-Camp, you can take it one step further by learning about some real-life aquatic superheroes! From sharks to dolphins to octopuses, the underwater world is full of animals with abilities that rival those of even Captain America or the Hulk. At Winter Mini-Camp, young ocean explorers in Kindergarten through 2nd grade will join forces with smart and acrobatic dolphins, unmask the master-of-disguise octopus, and discover a new side to the shark, a presumed villain who, spoiler alert, turns out to actually be a hero. The fun continues for campers in grades 3rd-5th with H20 Lab, a wet and messy chemistry based mini-camp or Aquatic Olympics, where children create and test their own submarine and participate in more water experiments. Or, campers can venture into the underwater lives of Sea Creature Survivors and uncover how deep ocean animals make their lives on the bottom of the sea. Winter Mini-Camp will be held December 18-20 and is open for campers from Kindergarten through 5th grade. Camp environments are designed to support inclusive and collaborative learning, promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) exploration and discovery, and empower campers to reach their full potential. For more information and to sign up texasstateaquarium.org/mini-camp
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anta is trading in his sleigh and fur coat for some fins and a wetsuit with a special visit to the Aquarium this holiday season. Starting this month, Scuba Santa will plunge into the H-E-B Caribbean Sea to meet the children of the Coastal Bend and pose for pictures with his fans. Guests of all ages are welcome to stop by to catch a glimpse of Scuba Santa and
get their picture taken with him. Who knows, Jolly Old St. Nick might even by joined by some reindeer or elves during his underwater visit to the Coastal Bend. Scuba Santa drops into the H-E-B Caribbean Sea daily December 1-24 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Be sure to visit us for a chance at a unique holiday picture with Scuba Santa!
Another Dimension of Fun
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n our new Whataburger 4-Dimension Theater, you’ll have a hard time separating fiction from reality as immersive effects put you smack-dab in the center of the action. This special entertainment experience, the only one of its kind in South Texas, brings films to life with 3D visuals in combination with snow, wind, water, jolts, pokes, and other interactive effects.
Since it opened in May, 4-D films including “Ice Age: No Time for Nuts 4-D” and “Shark: A 4-D Experience®” have educated, entertained, and awed our guests, whether it’s making them feel as if they’re coming face to face with some of the world’s most strange and mysterious shark species or joining Scrat, Ice Age’s resident nut-crazed saber-toothed squirrel, as he time travels in his zaniest adventure to date. With Christmas approaching, you’re invited on an extraordinary new 4-D adventure with THE POLAR EXPRESS™!
This 4-D story begins when a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole and embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. As always, these 4-D films are included at no extra charge with your membership or regular admission, so you can focus less on cost and more on the 4-D action happening all around you.
WINTER 2017
AQUARIUM NEWS
What’s New in Caribbean Journey Caribbean Journey has now been open for over half a year! If you haven’t seen our new jungle and aquatic species and habitats since we first opened on May 13, now is the perfect time to revisit. From new animals to enhanced exhibits, there’s always something new to see and experience here. Have you seen some of these new Caribbean Journey sights?
Debbie
Duncan the Goliath grouper has been wowing guests for months, and now another grouper with a name inspired by snack food has moved into the Blue Hole. Debbie, named after “Little Debbie’s,” is nearly as large as Duncan at over 200 pounds and seems fond of approaching the acrylic to get close to our guests. Unlike the darkly-colored Duncan, Debbie’s mottled skin allows her to easily blend into the rockwork of the Blue Hole.
Melvin
Melvin, our green iguana, is the undisputed lizard king of Caribbean Journey, venturing pretty much wherever he wants. You never know where you’ll find him, whether perched on an exhibit sign, basking on the palapa roof of the Maya Ruins, or soaking up the soon on the rockwork near the waterfall. Finding Melvin has become part of the Caribbean Journey experience, so keep your eyes peeled for this scaly champion of hide-and-seek.
XENA’s exhibit
For a sloth, Xena likes to really move! To give her even more space to explore in Caribbean Journey, we added some “bridges” made out of vines and limbs which allow her to climb much further than ever before. As you enter Caribbean Journey, keep your eyes turned upward and you may see Xena crawling onward into a new space or hanging out somewhere you’ve never seen her before!
Visit us again soon to see these exciting animals and more! WINTER 2017
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Wildlife Rescue and Recovery
Wildlife Rescue Expands with New Name After more than two decades of operating under the name of Second Chances, the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation program at the Texas State Aquarium is expanding its mission with a new name and an upgraded sea turtle rehabilitation facility.
Wildlife Rescue and Recovery to step up and commit to saving more sea turtles around the Coastal Bend. The new center will feature more space where highly-qualified staff can treat dozens of additional sea turtles and a specialized boat which will be used to find and rescue stranded sea turtles. With these new resources and a steadfast commitment to helping local animals, Wildlife Rescue and Recovery will be the Coastal Bend’s epicenter for the rescue and rehabilitation of shorebirds, raptors, marine mammals, and sea turtles.
Texas State Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue and Recovery Center, as it will now be known, will continue to take in hundreds of shorebirds, raptors, and marine mammals every year, with an increased focus on rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles.
Stay tuned on our website and social media pages for more news on our upcoming sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation efforts. If you’d like to help us rescue sea turtles and other vulnerable Gulf of Mexico species, please donate at texasstateaquarium.org/wildliferescue.
With cold-stunning season around the corner, the most dangerous time of the year for sea turtles, there couldn’t be a better time for
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The new center will feature more space where highly-qualified staff can treat dozens of additional sea turtles and a specialized boat which will be used to find and rescue stranded sea turtles.
WINTER 2017
Conservation Spotlight
Where the Sky Is Born O
n your visit to Caribbean Journey, you may have noticed some signs showing our support of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve in the Yucatan Peninsula. While this land of lush jungle and colorful coral reefs may lie over a thousand miles from our South Texas aquarium, we are connected in more ways than one. As you travel throughout Caribbean Journey, we hope you’re not only amazed at our exhibits modeled after the Sian Ka’an, but are inspired to help us protect and preserve this incredible ecosystem. Sian Ka’an means “where the sky is born” in Mayan, and we strive to keep that spirit alive in Caribbean Journey. Our massive skylight illuminates our jungle with natural sunlight and shows why the ancient Mayans held such a reverence for the heavens above and nature overall. Caribbean Journey’s exhibits depict the Sian Ka’an’s real-life natural wonders, while our replicated Maya Ruins and art throughout Caribbean Journey pays tribute to the Mayan’s respect for the land. This history shows how important this land is to multiple generations, and why it’s so crucial to help the people of Mexico defend the Sian Ka’an for many more generations to come.
WINTER 2017
ernmental organization created to protect the 1.3 million-acre reserve and all the life that lies within it. Amigos de Sian Ka’an are on the frontlines of the fight to keep the Yucatan safe from development, pollution, poaching, and other threats, and with help from the Texas State Aquarium and our guests, we’re confident they can succeed.
When you visit Caribbean Journey, you’re not only seeing a depiction of the Sian Ka’an’s jungle and reefs, you’re helping ensure a future for these incredible ecosystems. That’s because a portion of your admission and membership fees supports the Amigos de Sian Ka’an, a non-gov-
By visiting Caribbean Journey, you can be proud that you’re helping to preserve the Sian Ka’an, but if you want to do even more, you can donate directly to Amigos de Sian Ka’an using a kiosk in our main lobby. These funds will go directly to the organization and help ensure the Sian Ka’an is around forever. With your help, the sky is the limit on how much we give back to this Caribbean paradise.
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CALENDAR
1-24DEC SCUBA SANTA
17JAN
homeschool session Give your kids something to tweet about…no social media account needed. This Homeschool lets your child discover the brilliant biodiversity of bird species in our Caribbean Jungle and learn the skills necessary to study and care for our birds.
Summer Hours 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. daily Fall Hours 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday
1FEB
Scuba Santa will plunge into Caribbean Journey’s H-E-B Caribbean Sea December 1-24 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to meet our guests and pose for pictures.
Hours of Operation
SeaCamp Member Registration Opens
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday H-E-B Splash Park Hours Closed for the season
How To Contact Us:
16DEC
Accounting (361) 881-1286 Admissions (361) 881-1230 Donations & Development (361) 881-1340
Creature Tales
Education & SeaCamp (361) 881-1204 Event Rentals (361) 881-1244 General Information (361) 881-1200 Gift Shop (361) 881-1232 Spend your summer under the sea! Member registration for our popular SeaCamp opens on February 1. Reserve your spot and give your child an unforgettable summer full of aquatic adventures and scientific discovery!
Have you ever met a porcupine? Join us for Creature Tales at 10 a.m. as we read a story about these prickly creatures and then spend some quill-ity time with Chiquita, our prehensile-tailed porcupine.
14FEB
Group Reservations (361) 653-2602 Naturalist Office (361) 881-1250 Injured Animal (361) 881-1210 Membership (361) 881-1341 Pepsi Shoreline Grill (361) 881-1239 Volunteers (361) 881-1381 Wildlife Rescue and Recovery:
Valentine’s Day Dinner
(361) 881-1210
The Texas State Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
25DEC
CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS DAY Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! We’ll be closed for Christmas on December 25, and will reopen the next day on December 26 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
FOLLOW US Enjoy a romantic night with your sweetheart under the sea. You’ll enjoy an elegant candlelit dinner among our underwater exhibits complete with a three-course dish served up by our expert chefs.
texasstateaquarium.org
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WINTER 2017