NEW AFRICAN PENGUINS

The Florida Aquarium introduced six (6) new African penguins. Our Animal Care experts worked with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) through the Species Survival Plan (SSP) to identify the specific birds that could be integrated into our colony to ensure a healthy, genetically diverse and demographically stable population for the long-term future of this endangered species. A new outdoor African penguin habitat, which opened March 12, allows guests to see and engage with the penguins on every visit. For more information on the new habitat, see page 15.

Fish Tales

Other notable events for Animal Care included the opening of the false pilchard habitat. The rapid underwater movement of the new school of false pilchards in the color-changing environment quickly became a focal point of the Coral Reefs gallery. An additional 500 false pilchards were also added to the shallow side of the gallery, further delighting our guests.

A highlight for staff and guests alike was the addition of two (2) goliath groupers to the animal collection. This imposing and engaging species, missing from the Aquarium for a couple of years, has historically been one of the most iconic.

In April, more than 500 fish, comprising over 50 different species, were added to 14 habitats in five (5) galleries, including Journey to Madagascar, Wetlands of Florida, Shorelines, Coral Caves and Waves of Wonder.

Engaging Events And More

Raptors!: Debuted on Father’s Day weekend and featured birds of prey from around the world. The flighted exhibition took place three times daily on our scenic Rooftop Terrace and included a presentation about the various species’ natural history, adaptations, and protections.

SeaTREK: The Animal Care team played a pivotal role in the introduction of the SeaTREK program helping to develop the initial program, ensuring the wellbeing of the animals in habitat and helping to improve the guest experience through the early phases. For more about SeaTREK, see page 15.

FY22 was a year of welcome for the Animal Care team. We were able to bring interns back to study and collaborate for the first time since the pandemic, and we continued to add new species like scrawled filefish, scrawled and honeycomb cowfish, ruddy duck and little blue heron.

Animal Health Activities

Animal Health was able to transition back to a preventative medicine orientation, with more than 25% of our work focused on routine prophylactic examinations. We resumed an annual examination and preventative medicine schedule, beginning with all cownose rays, a number of Learning’s ambassador animals and other ambassador birds, penguins and more.

Veterinary staff virtually attended the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Conference. Additionally, a training program was created for the Animal Care team to understand and assist the processes of the Animal Health team. All current full-time Animal Care staff have completed the training.

With an eye to the future, we partnered with University of Florida summer veterinary camp, “Gator Camp,” for high school students in underserved communities. This experience is key to exposing interested students to aquatic veterinary careers and to The Florida Aquarium.