Blog post by Tina Winterlik © 2011
March 10 /2011
http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com
Vancouver Aquarium - The Amazon Exhibit
March 19- April 30- See Below
http://www.vanaqua.org/
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| Checking out the Frogs-Vancouver Aquarium - Tina Winterlik © 2011 |
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| Vancouver Aquarium - Tina Winterlik © 2011 |
So today my little girl went to the Vancouver Public Library http://www.vpl.ca/ and she came home with a magazine called Waters from the Vancouver Aquarium http://www.vanaqua.org/
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| Beluga-Vancouver Aquarium - Tina Winterlik © 2011 |
So I thought it might be nice to do a blogpost on the Vancouver Aquarium. Now I've been going to the Aquarium since I was a little girl. I grew up with Skana (she was a killer whale or orca if you prefer - we all adored her), and ever since Angel was born we have tried to visit once a year- it's my birthday gift to her- we missed last year, I hope to go this year.
The Aquarium has gotten very expensive, but I understand, they have a lot to take care of and I realize that this fabulous facility cost a LOT to maintain.
We were fortunate to see the baby belugas, a really once in a life time experience, I and will cherish those 10 little minutes forever. How beautiful to see such a rare and wonderous event.
We love the Amazon display and the butterflies, and the sloth and the snakes. Once Angel got to hold a big walking stick bug, now that was super special.
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| Walking Stick-Vancouver Aquarium - Tina Winterlik © 2011 |
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| From Wikipedia -Joemess - Austin http://www.flickr.com/people/16046854@N00 |
The otters, Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, they are just so sweet. When they swim on there back and open food on their tummy. The old moma ones are so cute with there grey chubby faces.
The B.C. Coast Exhibit is really fabulous. It's truly amazing to see all the beautiful sea life that lives just under the surface, that we would never experience, if it weren't for that wonder display with the sturgeon and all the anemones and fish.
Once Angel got her face painted, that was really cool.
We love to watch the belugas, one of the biggest thrills for Angel is touching the sea cucumbers and star fish.
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| Starfish and Fish-Vancouver Aquarium - Tina Winterlik © 2011 |
Yes the Aquarium is really a wonderful place, if you haven't been in a while, you should check it out. Now is a good time as the off season is cheaper than summer.
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| Vancouver Aquarium - Tina Winterlik © 2011 |
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| Vancouver Aquarium |
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre is a self-supporting, non-profit association dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, education, research, and direct action.
The Aquarium is home to over 70,000 amazing animals.
Each year 80,000 school children learn about aquatic life through our school programs.
980 people volunteer at the Aquarium, logging 58,000 hours of service in 2008.
More than 35,000,000 people have visited the Aquarium since 1956.
The Aquarium's 20,000 member-households represent a total of 55,000 people who support the Aquarium.
Located in Stanley Park, the Aquarium is open to visitors from around the world 365 days a year.
The annual operating budget for 2009 is $23 million.
Admissions, programs, groups, membership, retail operations, and food services account for 81% of the Aquarium's operating budget while charitable contributions, donations and restricted grants comprise the remainder.
The Aquarium formed the Vancouver Aquarium Conservation Foundation in 1997 to manage endowment funds to support the Aquarium's education, marine science, animal care and conservation programs for years to come.
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| Vancouver Aquarium - Tina Winterlik © 2011 |
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| Vancouver Aquarium - Tina Winterlik © 2011 |
The Aquarium also houses five beluga whales:
- Kavna is the oldest beluga at the Aquarium; she is estimated to be around 40 years of age. She is distinguishable from the other belugas by the fact that she is the whitest, due to her age. She is in the behind the scene along with Imaq. She has given birth at Vancouver Aquarium to a male calf named "Tuaq" however he died around 4 weeks later.
- Imaq is the only male beluga and is around 21 years of age. He is distinguishable by the fact that he is the largest beluga at the Aquarium. Located in the behind the scene along with Kavna. Imaq fathered "Tuvaq", "Tiqa", and "Nala"
- Aurora is a female beluga and is around 21 years of age. She gave birth first to Qila, Tuvaq (who died in 2005) and recently Nala. "Aurora" is named after the famous northern light Aurora borealis.
- Nala was the youngest female beluga born to mother Aurora in June 2009. In the fall, members chose the name Nala which means "surprise gift" in Inuktitut. She died due to inflammation in the lung on June 21st 2010 at around 10:15 p.m. Coins and foreign matter were found in her respiratory tract.
- Qila is a female beluga and is around 15 years old. She was born at the aquarium to mother Aurora and father Nanuq on July 23, 1995. She is the first beluga to be conceived and born in a Canadian aquarium, and is also the first beluga conceived and born in a Canadian aquarium to give birth to a calf. "Qila" means "beluga" in Inuktitut.
- Tiqa is a female beluga calf, the daughter of Qila and Imaq. She was born on June 10, 2008.[11] Tiqa has a very interesting personality, she likes to play with birds. Tiqa is the only beluga calf at Vancouver Aquarium. "Tiqa"s name stands for T- Tuesday (the day she was born), I- Imaq (the father), Q-Qila （the mother), A-Aurora (the grandmother).
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