Aquarium News
Finomenal Fun
ANOTHER SAND TIGER
shark
recently joined the marine community in the Aquarium’s largest
exhibit, the Living Shipwreck. The young female is about six
feet long and weighs about 100 pounds.
Six feet of shark is impressive. But
this one still has a ways to go to catch up to an older counterpart.
Another sand tiger cruising around the exhibit’s submarine replica
weighs about 350 pounds and measures nine feet long.
The small sand tiger had outgrown an
exhibit at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Her new home
at Pine Knoll Shores is large enough to accommodate her expected
growth over the next few years.
Sand tigers commonly
frequent offshore shipwrecks. They swim with their mouths agape,
exposing multiple rows of tri-cuspid teeth. Their savage appearance
makes them a favorite of Aquarium visitors. But like many marine
animals, they usually will not bother humans unless surprised or
provoked. Nurse sharks and sandbar sharks also populate the
306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck.
Leap Year
A new exhibit in the
Mountain Gallery features frogs and amphibians found in North
Carolina, part of the Aquarium’s participation in Year of the Frog.
The international conservation effort highlights the plight of
amphibians worldwide. By some estimates, extinction threatens at
least one-third of all known species. A rapidly spreading fungus
leads the list of perils that also includes habitat degradation and
pollution.
The Aquarium’s new exhibit spotlights
green tree frogs, squirrel tree frogs, leopard frogs, salamanders
and newts, in settings similar to their natural habitats. Watch for
programs and activities featuring amphibians throughout 2008.
Ocean Girls
Girls ages 10 – 14
have a chance to get their feet wet in ocean sciences on Saturday,
May 17. The Aquarium teams up with the North Carolina Maritime
Museum for Ocean Girls Day. The one-day workshop features
demonstrations, outdoor activities, a career and information fair
and other programs to help girls get acquainted with marine science
opportunities.
The workshop and
Aquarium admission that day are free for participants, but advance
registration and parent chaperones are required. Call for more
information on the workshop and registration details.
Put Down that Broom
Cast spring cleaning
aside and reel in some fun. “Fishing Fanatics” has returned to the
Special Activities spring schedule on Tuesdays. The three-hour
sessions offer expert instruction, hands-on learning and family fun
time. The Aquarium provides equipment and bait, and covers the
licensing requirements.
Also in the seafood category: “Sound
Seafood” on Monday afternoons reveals the techniques for catching
crabs and finding clams. Other outdoor adventures such as kayak
trips, collecting cruises and barrier island explorations are
available, as well as behind-the-scenes tours, dining with the
critters and other indoor favorites.
More activities join the lineup in
June. See the website for a complete calendar. Special Activities
programs require fees and advance registration.
The Aquarium is open 9am – 5pm daily. Admission is $8
for adults, $7 for ages 62 and over and $6 for ages 6 – 17. Children
five and under and North Carolina Aquarium Society members are
admitted free. Visit ncaquariums.com or call 252-247-4003 for more
information.
Written
exclusively for Island Review by
Julie Powers & Claire Aubel, NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
Read more articles in the May print edition of Island Review.
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