Takeover Tuesday: Animal Experience Specialist

Posted on August 22, 2017 by NewportAquarium

Welcome to Takeover Tuesday! My name is Kristen Guevara and I have the pleasure of volunteering for the Husbandry department through the WAVE Foundation, as well as work for the Newport Aquarium as an Animal Experience Specialist. I started volunteering when I received a Husbandry Internship in the Fall of 2016 under the mentorship of Jen Hazeres, a Senior Biologist.

: Here’s a behind-the-scenes look above the ribboned sea dragons tank. I’m getting ready to start my day cleaning each seahorse tank with our scrub pad called a “Doodle Bug.”

Hoping to find a career in the field of animal husbandry, I have been able to continue gaining volunteer experience with Laurel, the primary seahorse biologist. Through Laurel’s guidance, I have learned how much time and effort it takes to care for all of the Seahorses in our Seahorse Gallery.

Each tank is deep-cleaned once a day, using the Doodle Bug to scrub the walls of each tank, as well as cleaning up any leftover food or other particles in the tank.

In addition to scrubbing the walls, we have to clean out each tank and filtration system. This is done by hydro vacuuming the gravel (shown here) or by syphoning out any leftover food or animal waste.

Behind-the-scenes above the ribboned sea dragons tank, syphoning the tank.

Seahorses can be a little more susceptible to skin disorders because they lack the scales that fish have, but rather have bony-plated armor. Therefore, it is important to keep the seahorse tanks as clean as possible. To prevent any sort of cross contamination it is important that each tank have its own Doodle Bug, and syphon. Washing hands in between tanks is a MUST as well.

A behind-the-scenes look at one of our spiny seahorses, also called thorny seahorse.

Seahorses will use their prehensile tail to hold on to seaweed and rocks in their environment, patiently waiting for their prey to swim by. They are ambush predators so once food comes within reach they will quickly suck them up using their pipe-like snout.

This is a video of our freshwater pipefish eating one of their favorite foods, brine shrimp! Pipefish are related to seahorses and they both fall under the Sygnathidae family. Seahorses spend the entire day foraging for food because they lack a stomach! They can quickly digest food and since they have no place to store it, continually search for food during the day. To accommodate their appetite, the seahorses are fed 2-3 times a day!

This is the acclimation tank behind-the-scenes. We bring Denver, the loggerhead sea turtle, back here to find him. This tank is the same water system as our Surrounded by Sharks tank.

My personal favorite to feed is Denver, the loggerhead sea turtle. He eats separate from our sharks and shark rays because he would steal all of their food if he could! Here he is getting one of his favorite fish, Spanish mackerel.

Here I am with Bindi, a Blue Tongue Skink. She is one of our ambassador animals that we bring out for guests to meet and learn about.

Blue tongue skinks are native to Australia, and just like their name suggests, they have a bright blue tongue. This is always a highlight to my day because not only do I get to interact with the animals, but I get to share my passion for these unique animals with the guests at the aquarium.

We have daily animal encounters right outside our new Stingray Hideaway exhibit.

Animal Encounter with Bindi, the Blue Tongue Skink.

You can meet one of our outreach animals, learn some interesting facts about them, and possibly even touch one of our animal ambassadors. Bindi is just one of our many animal ambassadors that you could meet! Times of animal encounters may change, check the Newport Aquarium website for more information on animal encounters.

Last, but definitely not least, are the penguins! Our penguins are repeatedly voted as one of our guests’ favorite animals.

I like interacting with guest and answering questions they have. Here I am at Penguin Palooza, talking to guests who just watched a penguin feed.

Here I am after a Penguin Feed speaking with a few guests that had some great questions about penguins. You can see our Penguin Feed daily, check the Newport Aquarium website for times, as they may change. I am fortunate to be part of our dedicated team to ensure our guests get the most out of their visit and maybe I’ll see you on your next visit to the Aquarium!

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Takeover Tuesday: Raising a loggerhead sea turtle

Posted on July 11, 2017 by NewportAquarium

Takeover Tuesday features a “day in the life” of biologists at Newport Aquarium. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Hello there, my name is Jen. I am a Senior Biologist here at Newport Aquarium. Thank you for joining me for this #TakeoverTuesday.

I started out at Newport Aquarium 13 years ago as a diver in the tunnel tanks and as a dive show presenter! Most of our divers are volunteers through the WAVE Foundation.

I’m getting into our acclimation tank ahead of a special dive training. I started out at Newport Aquarium as a volunteer diver with WAVE Foundation. To learn more about the Volunteer Dive Program, visit wavefoundation.org

Divers receive special training on how to safely interact with the fascinating aquatic animals who call this place home. After 4 years of diving I joined the staff as a part time presenter/biologist where I worked all around the aquarium. I eventually took on a full time position as a senior biologist where I now work with the animals in the shore gallery, shark tank and anywhere else I am needed.

As a biologist I have the pleasure of working with our loggerhead sea turtles here at Newport Aquarium.

Denver, our adult loggerhead sea turtle is about 24 years old and weighs about 205 pounds! His favorite foods include fish, squid and salmon which he eats regularly, about 3-5 days a week.

Denver lives in our 385,000 gallon “Surrounded by Sharks” exhibit. Visitors have the chance to get a glimpse of Denver close up as he swims around. Due to medical reasons, Denver will continue to serve as an ambassador animal for his kind, helping to educate visitors about sea turtles, while giving them the opportunity for such a unique interactive experience.

Frank our younger loggerhead sea turtle is here as a part of the North Carolina Sea Turtle Project.

Dr. Hill helps take shell measurements during Frank’s checkup. Frank now weighs 1298 grams (2.8 pounds). Right after this checkup, he received the green light to move into a bigger tank.

Frank arrived in October of 2016 and weighed only 96 grams (0.2 pounds)! My job is to make sure Frank grows up healthy and strong as he trains for his release back into the ocean in a few months.

Frank just entered the bigger tank in the Shore Gallery. Turtle Tuesday is the perfect day to celebrate his new home. When Frank is big enough he will be released back into the ocean near the Gulf Stream! Stay tuned for our blog posts when we take Frank back out to the ocean, like we did with Shack last year.

While we’re making an impact with sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation, we’re also making a global impact with our Shark Ray Breeding Program and research here at Newport Aquarium. Our dedicated team of biologists has recently published a chapter on Shark Ray Husbandry.

We attribute part of our success in breeding due to their diet. Our four shark rays, Sweet Pea, Scooter, Sunshine and Spike eat only the finest of seafood – it’s restaurant quality!

We brought one of our shark rays, Scooter, into the acclimation tank.

The shark rays receive lobsters three days out of the week and bony fish two days of the week. Feeding the shark rays lobster is not common practice among many aquariums. Our high quality diets heavily contribute to the health and happiness of our animals.

Thank you for joining me today for #TakeoverTuesday. I hope I helped to spark an interest in these incredible animals, and how important it is to take care of their environment.

It’s World Sea Turtle Day! Meet Frank

Posted on June 16, 2017 by NewportAquarium

Happy World Sea Turtle Day! Say hello to Frank, Newport Aquarium’s resident loggerhead sea turtle rescue!

Frank the Loggerhead Sea Turtle was rescued from North Carolina and will be returned to the ocean in October.

Every year, biologists at Newport Aquarium rescue a loggerhead sea turtle hatchling from North Carolina as part of the North Carolina Sea Turtle Project. Volunteers watch the sea turtle nests to look out for any stragglers who remain in the nest after the other hatchlings have made their way to the ocean.

Here’s a slideshow of images from last year’s hatchling release:

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The volunteers rescue these stragglers and send them to aquariums and other organizations around the country for rehabilitation.

sea-turtle-rescue-and-rehabilitation-center-10-18-16-2

We joined teams from Mystic Aquarium, Adventure Aquarium (our sister aquarium), Virginia Aquarium, National Aquarium in Baltimore, and NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Frank is one of those hatchlings, and he’ll be here at the Newport Aquarium until he’s returned to the ocean this October.

How Did Frank Get His Name?
Frank may seem an unusual name for a turtle, but there is an inspiring namesake behind it!

According to Senior Biologist Jen Hazeres, Frank was named after a very sweet gentleman who was on the boat that went out with her and Water Specialist Cameo VonStrohe to get the sea turtles. As you can guess, the man’s name was Frank!

Last fall, Jen and Cameo returned Shack, our previous rescued loggerhead sea turtle, back to the ocean.

He was there with his sisters, who were volunteers helping with the turtle rescue. Frank, who has Down’s syndrome, had accompanied them on the trip to see the turtles. Hazeres and VonStrohe got to know them and their story during the trip, so when it came time to name their new turtle, they knew what name they wanted to choose.

“We’re always looking for inspiring stories to help us name our animals,” Hazeres said, “So when we got our new turtle, we asked if we could name him after Frank.”

Just Keep Swimming
As part of the rehabilitation process, our biologists and veterinarian take regular measurements and give regular check-ups to Frank.

“We have a growth chart that we’re required to follow,” Hazeres said, “and Frank is right on track with where he should be.”

According to Hazeres, Frank is a naturally strong swimmer and diver, which is great news for when he returns to the ocean later this year.

“He’s been diving ever since he got here and we put him in the water,” Hazeres said. “He’s also a superior swimmer for his age, compared to past turtles we’ve had.”

Usually, it’s a longer process to make sure that the baby turtles are on par with the swimming and diving abilities they need to survive in the wild, but Frank has been a natural swimmer right from the start, and he’s only improved since!

What Happens Next?

Hazeres and the other biologists will continue monitoring Frank and looking after him during his time here at Newport Aquarium. Frank is fed a diet of an aquatic sea turtle gel food each morning, and in the afternoons, he’s fed fish, squid, or other types of food he’ll likely eat in the wild.

Frank receives regular vet visits as part of his rehabilitation.

As he grows bigger and stronger, he’ll eventually be moved to the larger tank in the Shore Gallery, next to Shark Ray Bay Theater, so he can continue practicing his diving and swimming.

You can visit Frank in the Shore Gallery until he is returned to his home in the ocean this October!

Homecoming for Shack, the rescued loggerhead sea turtle

Posted on October 20, 2016 by NewportAquarium

Greetings from Shackleford Banks

This week marks a big homecoming for Shack, the rescued loggerhead sea turtle. A team from Newport Aquarium is in North Carolina, bringing Shack back to Shackleford Banks. After spending this past year at Newport Aquarium, growing and thriving, he’s ready to return to the ocean. Here’s Shack’s homecoming, told from Newport Aquarium Senior Biologist, Jen Hazeres, and Water Quality Specialist, Cameo VonStrohe.

Monday, October 17, 2016
We spent the day collecting salt marsh fish with two biologists from Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium.

Jen has her feet in the sand, helps gather salt marsh fish at Shackleford Banks.

Greetings from Shackleford Banks.

Cameo (left) gathers salt marsh fish along Shackleford Banks.

We caught striped killifish, sheepshead minnows, permit, mullet, and hermit crabs.

After a short boat ride to Shackleford Banks, the team anchored then used cast nets. This location happens to be our yearling turtle’s namesake… Shack, where he was found stranded on the beach last year.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

We took Shack to get a check-up and prepped for a PIT tag. Dr. Matthew Godfrey from North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission measured Shack’s shell. Dr. Godfrey performed check-ups and took measurements on all of the turtles that are going to be released.

Jen holds Shack as he gets his wellness check-up.

Dr. Matthew Godfrey, State Coordinator for the Sea Turtle Program, measures Shack’s shell, and prepares to “tag” Shack with the PIT tag.

The PIT tag is an injected ID tag that can be read via a reader like UPC code. Biologists and keepers at zoos and aquariums use PIT tags with a lot of larger animals to help identify them from like animals in the same tank – such as sharks at Newport.

Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

We joined teams from Mystic Aquarium, Adventure Aquarium (our sister aquarium), Virginia Aquarium, National Aquarium in Baltimore, and NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Jean Beasley gave us a tour at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. She is a real hero for sea turtle rescue in memory of her daughter.

The hospital was incredible, Jean is a huge champion of sea turtles.

The pools in the picture behind Jean are full of other rescue turtles. The hospital gets severe medical cases that usually involve surgeries or more involved rehab. Almost all turtles are released.

The hospital is 20 years old but moved into the new huge building three years ago. They have two main rooms, one for more critical patients. They also have a surgery room, radiograph room, kitchen, lab, and more. The hospital is completely funded privately and staffed by volunteers. They rehab green sea turtles, kemps, and loggerheads. Learn more about the hospital here: http://www.seaturtlehospital.org/

From the hospital’s website: The mission of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is the conservation and preservation of all species of marine turtles, both in the water and on the beach.

We accomplish this through the rescue, care, and release of sick and injured sea turtles, public education regarding the plight of sea turtles and the threat of their extinction, and learning opportunities for students of biology, wildlife conservation, and veterinary medicine from around the world. A nonprofit organization, we view our work as a privilege and are honored to work with these magnificent creatures.

Stay tuned for Jen and Cameo’s next post: Shack gets released back into the ocean.

Read our previous post: Rescued loggerhead sea turtle ‘yearling’ on his way to the ocean.

Rescued loggerhead sea turtle ‘yearling’ on his way to the ocean

Posted on October 18, 2016 by NewportAquarium

After spending the last year at Newport Aquarium, Shack, the rescued loggerhead sea turtle is making his way back to North Carolina, and will be released back into the ocean this week. Shack came to Newport Aquarium last October, as a part of the North Carolina Sea Turtle Project. He was rescued as a hatchling on the beach along Shackleford Banks in North Carolina.

Shack, therescued loggerhead sea turtle is ready to return to the ocean.

Working Together

Biologists at Newport Aquarium work closely with the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knolls Shores to rehabilitate a young loggerhead sea turtle each year.

One final picture in front of the saltwater tank near Shore Gallery. Biologist Jen Hazeres spent the last year raising Shack, and preparing him to return to the ocean.

“We travel to North Carolina every fall to release the previous year’s hatchling and pick up a new sea turtle that needs our help,” said Newport Aquarium Senior Biologist, Jen Hazeres who will be joined by Newport Aquarium Water Quality Specialist, Cameo Von Strohe. This week, they will meet up with teams from several other facilities to release the sea turtle “yearlings” back into the ocean. And they’ll return with a new hatchling to raise over the next year.

Ready for the ocean

In preparation to bring the yearling sea turtle back to North Carolina, Hazeres gave Shack one final check-up. She prepped his shell and rubbed an ointment on his head and shell. She also applied a salve on his eyes to keep them moistened.

A lubricating ointment is rubbed on Shack’s shell to prepare him for the trip back to the ocean.

Hazeres applies an ointment to Shack’s eyes to make sure they’re moistened.

Stay tuned for updates as Hazeres and Von Strohe visit the site in North Carolina and rescue a new hatchling.

To learn more about how you can help, see our previous post: https://aquariumworks.org/2016/05/20/endangered-species-day-rescued-loggerhead-sea-turtle-enters-new-tank/

Rescued Loggerhead sea turtle ready to return to the ocean

Posted on September 16, 2016 by NewportAquarium

Shack, a rescued loggerhead sea turtle receives his final exam from Newport Aquarium Senior Biologist Jen Hazeres and Dr. Peter Hill.

Shack, the one-year-old rescued loggerhead sea turtle at Newport Aquarium will be released into the Atlantic Ocean next month, as a part of the North Carolina Sea Turtle Project. Shack was rescued last October, as a hatchling on the beach in Shackleford Shoal, N.C.

Newport Aquarium has partnered with aquariums across the country to participate in this project and aid sea turtle conservation efforts since 2003.

Only one out of 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings will grow up to be adults. Some sea turtles can lay more than 100 eggs each time they nest. However, a lot of things can stop a sea turtle from laying her eggs. They’re accidentally captured in fisheries. They’re also hunted in many coastal communities, especially in Central America.

Through the North Carolina Sea Turtle Project, newly hatched turtles that are at risk to not make it into the water are rescued and nurtured for about a year until they are strong enough to be released back into the wild.

The first several minutes after they hatch are when these turtles are most at risk, but the majority of problems threatening them later in life aren’t natural—they’re man-made, including the fishing industry and loss of nesting habitat.

Growing and Learning
When Shack arrived at Newport Aquarium, he weighed 73 grams – about the size of an egg from your refrigerator—and could fit in the palm of your hand. After spending a year at Newport Aquarium learning to swim, find his own food and coexist with other marine life, Shack is ready to return to the ocean.

He spent the last four months hanging out with the different species of angelfish and other saltwater fish in the exhibit outside Shark Ray Bay Theater, in the Shore Gallery.

“He learned how to dive deeper, and he’s gotten used to the environment,” said Jen Hazeres, senior biologist at Newport Aquarium. Hazeres was part of the team that brought Shack back to be fostered at Newport Aquarium. In his most recent checkup, staff veterinarian, Dr. Peter Hill took Shack’s shell measurements, performed a physical exam and weight, and cleared Shack for release. He now weighs almost 7 and a half pounds.

Shack explores the tank with his new neighbors.

Saving The Species
Scientists say only one out of 1,000 hatchlings has a chance of making it to adulthood. All sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Loggerhead sea turtles are listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

Biologists at Newport Aquarium work closely with the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knolls Shores to rehabilitate a young loggerhead sea turtle each year. Newport Aquarium biologists travel to North Carolina each fall to release the previous year’s hatchling and pick up a new sea turtle that needs our help. The WAVE Foundation’s Aquatic Conservation Fund supports the satellite tagging of our turtles before their release.

After Shack is released, Newport Aquarium staffers will return to Northern Kentucky with a new hatchling turtle to raise over the next year. Stay tuned for that announcement.

To learn more about how you can help, see our previous post: https://aquariumworks.org/2016/05/20/endangered-species-day-rescued-loggerhead-sea-turtle-enters-new-tank/

Endangered Species Day: Rescued Loggerhead Sea Turtle Enters New Tank

Posted on May 20, 2016 by NewportAquarium

This Endangered Species Day, Newport Aquarium celebrates a success story as the rescued loggerhead sea turtle hatchling, Shack, is introduced to a new, more spacious home within Newport Aquarium. Shack was just moved into the bigger saltwater tank outside Shark Ray Bay Theater, in the Shore Gallery. He entered the tank to the excitement and applause of a group of young children, and swam down to the front of the tank, giving the children an up close view as he explored his new home.

Shack now has more room to dive and grow as he awaits his next journey to return back to the ocean, off the coast of North Carolina. He was rescued last October, as a hatchling on the beach in Shackleford Shoal, N.C. He weighed 73 grams – about the size of an egg from your refrigerator—and could fit in the palm of your hand. He now weighs about 2.5 pounds.

Biologist, Jen Hazeres, with Shack, shortly after he was rescued. Shack weighed 73 grams.

Newport Aquarium biologist, Jen Hazeres, with loggerhead sea turtle, Shack, before he enters his new, bigger tank. Shack now weighs 2.5 pounds.

“Moving Shack into the bigger tank is part of his development and enrichment,” said Jen Hazeres, biologist at Newport Aquarium. Hazeres was part of the team of biologists that rescued Shack, and brought him back to be fostered at Newport Aquarium. “He’ll be able to dive deeper. We want to get him used to a more natural environment before he’s released back out into the wild in October.”

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Why Tracking Is Important
Satellite tracking is extremely important in determining sea turtle migratory patterns, feeding and nesting data. We hope to learn a lot from their travels. You can go online and see where the rescued sea turtles go at www.wavefoundation.org.

Only one out of 1,000 hatchling turtles will grow up to be adults. Some sea turtles can lay more than 100 eggs each time they nest. However, a lot of things can stop a sea turtle from laying her eggs. They’re accidentally captured in fisheries. They’re also hunted in many coastal communities, especially in Central America.

How To Help

Help by keeping the beaches clean when you go on vacation. Pack up your beach chairs, towels, trash and other items at night so the sea turtles have an easy path to their nest.
Turn off your porch lights at the vacation home during the nesting season. The artificial lighting confuses the female sea turtles from nesting. Instead, turtles will choose a less-than-optimal nesting spot, which affects the chances of producing a successful nest. Also, near-shore lighting can cause sea turtle hatchlings to become disoriented when they are born.
Reduce the need to use plastic bags. They end up in our oceans and look like floating jellyfish to sea turtles. Use reusable bags for your grocery items.

America Recycles Day is November 15

Posted on November 12, 2015 by NewportAquarium

by Madison Wallace, Newport Aquarium Public Relations Aide

The phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” is probably one you’ve heard before, but for America Recycles Day on Nov. 15, we would like to encourage you to dive a little deeper into the effects recycling has on marine ecosystems and the ocean at large.

More than any other type of pollution, plastic is harming marine ecosystems.

Why? A single plastic bag can take over 500 years to break down naturally, and this process creates what scientists refer to as “microplastics”. Microplastics are tiny granules of plastic that have worn away from larger pieces of plastic waste like bags and bottles, and are now suspended indefinitely in the ocean.

A penny provides scale for the size of micro plastics.
Photo source: http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2013/04/12/new-concerns-about-plastic-pollution-in-great-lakes-garbage-patch/

In fact, scientists estimate that for every square mile of ocean, there are around 46,000 pieces of plastic waste suspended and continuously breaking down.

It’s hard to imagine that the plastic shopping bag you get from the grocery store could make its way into a river near your house, or even the ocean, but it’s estimated that more than 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean and lakes every year.

Photo Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/news/photos/000/806/80621.ngsversion.1422282021989.adapt.768.1.jpg

It’s estimated that 80 percent of marine pollution originates on dry land, particularly from waste that hasn’t been disposed of properly. Plastics floating in the ocean pose serious threats to marine animals that are often already endangered. These creatures often ingest plastic waste, or become entangled in it.

For example, if you’ve been to Newport Aquarium, you’ve probably encountered Denver the Loggerhead sea turtle. Sea turtles are particularly at risk for consuming deadly plastics because they feed off the surface.

Denver, our nearly 200-pound loggerhead sea turtle, serves an ambassador to Newport Aquarium’s sea turtle conservation efforts.

Loggerheads’ diets primarily consist of jellyfish, which floating plastic bags often resemble. This mistake can often be fatal or debilitating.

High densities of plastic pollution tend to target seabirds, marine mammals such as seals and otters and reptiles such as turtles, many of which are represented her at The Aquarium.

For America Recycles Day, Newport Aquarium wanted to share some ways you can help minimize the amount of plastic waste that enters the ocean annually and support the well-being of the animals at risk.

FIVE WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Invest in reusable grocery bags
Try grabbing a few reusable grocery bags next time you’re at the grocery! Stores will often give you a discount for bringing your reusable bags, and your family can save up to 1,500 bags annually. (http://www.nrdc.org/media/2008/080109.asp)

Bring your own thermos
Make your next morning coffee run a little greener. Bringing your own coffee thermos allows you to skip the paper (or Styrofoam) cup, the plastic lid and avoid inevitable coffee spills! Plus, many coffee places will give you a B.Y.O.M. (bring your own mug) discount.

Avoid cosmetics with microbeads
Facial scrubs and toothpastes often boast of being exfoliating, but they’re also being filtered into our Great Lakes. These products contain plastic microbeads, which are washed down drains and dumped into lakes and rivers. Switch to more natural products that utilize non-plastic exfoliates.

Pass on the bottled water
Somewhere around 50 million plastic water bottles are produced in the United States every year. Switching to a reusable water bottle can make a huge difference in the amount of plastic you use daily, and save you a ton of money. (http://www.nrdc.org/media/2008/080109.asp)

Join the movement
Newport Aquarium’s nonprofit partner, the WAVE Foundation, hosts a river cleanup team through ORSANCO (Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission) every year. All bodies of water are connected, and helping clean up the Ohio River is a great place to start.

For more information, check out your county’s recycling guidelines on ways to recycle properly, and do your part to learn more about how to reuse and recycle as many of your household waste products as possible.

Newport Aquarium to release 1-year-old sea turtle back into wild

Posted on October 20, 2015 by NewportAquarium

By Madison Wallace, Newport Aquarium PR Aide

Paddles, a 1-year-old loggerhead sea turtle, receives her final physical examination from Newport Aquarium staff.

NEWPORT, Ky. — Paddles, Newport Aquarium’s one-year-old loggerhead sea turtle, will be released into the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, as a part of the North Carolina Sea Turtle Project.

Newport Aquarium has partnered with aquariums across the country to participate in this project and aid sea turtle conservation efforts since 2003.

Newport Aquarium Biologist Jen Hazeres (left) holds up Paddles the sea turtle while posing next to a poster at North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shore telling Paddles’ story with Water Quality Specialist Cameo Von Strohe.

Two animal husbandry staffers from Newport Aquarium, Biologist Jen Hazeres and Water Quality Specialist Cameo Von Strohe, made the trip down to North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores to release Paddles into the Gulf Stream just this week.

In order to better track her progress, Hazeres affixed a tracking device to Paddles’ shell. This device will make it possible for aquarium staff and guests alike to track her movements throughout the coming year.

Sea turtle tagging also allows scientists and conservationists to collect more accurate data about the behavior and population of young sea turtles.

When Newport Aquarium received Paddles in November 2014, she was about the size of a deck of cards and weighed less than one pound.

After spending a year at Newport Aquarium learning to swim, find her own food and coexist with other marine life, nine-pound Paddles will be released back into the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday.

Loggerhead sea turtles in the wild are threatened, which makes programs like the Sea Turtle Project integral to these creatures’ survival.

Newport Aquarium Biologist Jen Hazeres placing a satellite tag on Paddles.

Loggerhead turtles are listed as internationally endangered, meaning that we could see their species disappear in the wild within the foreseeable future.

Adulthood for loggerhead sea turtles takes place between 17 and 33 years, making the journey to adulthood an arduous one. Only one out of 1,000 hatching sea turtles makes it to adulthood, meaning that only one turtle out of ten nests will survive to reproduce.

The WAVE Foundation, Newport Aquarium’s nonprofit partner, is responsible for organizing the Newport Aquarium’s involvement with this project every year.

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Newport Aquarium has showcased thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons of water since May 15, 1999. Named one of the best aquariums in the U.S. by Travel Channel and USA Today, Newport Aquarium is a Herschend Family Entertainment company and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Newport Aquarium is open to the public 365 days a year and located across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati at Newport on the Levee.

One Aquarium Way | Newport, KY 41071 | 859-261-7444
www.newportaquarium.com

See Them While You Can: Pair of Endangered Tortoise Species to Leave Newport Aquarium on March 1

Posted on February 24, 2015 by NewportAquarium

By Jacque’line Wright, Newport Aquarium PR Aide

Bravo, the famous 650-pound the Galapagos tortoise, isn’t the only species leaving Newport Aquarium March 1. Say goodbye to the Spider tortoise and Egyptian tortoise too! These tortoises may not weigh as much as Bravo, but they have their own unique characteristics that make them just as cool!

Egyptian Tortoise

Egyptian tortoises, the smallest tortoise species in the Northern Hemisphere, will be leaving Newport Aquarium on March 1.

Interesting facts:
-The Egyptian tortoise may make a mating call similar to the call of the mourning dove.
-The Egyptian tortoise is considered the second smallest species of tortoise in the world.

Where can they be found?
These tortoises can be found along the Mediterranean coastal strip of the North African coast extending from Libya to beyond the Nile Delta in Egypt. As these tortoises are on the verge of becoming extinct, they can still be found in the Libyan regions of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica.

What habitat do they live in?
The Egyptian tortoise is associated with desert and semi-desert habitats, which consist of compact sand, rocks, and gravel plains. The habitat for the turtles found along the Mediterranean coastal strip would be coastal salt marshes.

What do they eat?
These tortoises are found in the desert where food may not always be available, but their usual diet is rough grasses, desert plants and fruit.

What are their physical features?
The Egyptian tortoise can have a wide variety of shell colors, including ivory, dull yellow, golden, bright straw-color to dark brown. The pale colors allow the tortoises to camouflage into the sandy, rocky habitat.

Status
Egyptian tortoises are classified as Critically Endangered (CR A2abcd+3d) on the IUCN Red List 2004 and listed on Appendix I of CITES.

Spider Tortoise

Spider tortoises will be coming off exhibit when Turtle Canyon closes on March 1. (Photo via The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy)

Where can they be found?
The Spider tortoise can be found in the region of the coastal areas of southwestern Madagascar about 5-30 miles inland from the coast. The furthest north they can be found is Morombe.

What Habitat do they live in?
They live in habitats that consist of sandy areas with spiny vegetation and that are close to the coast. The rainfall in their habitat is usually low and irregular.

What does it look like?
The Spider tortoise has a shell that is highly curved, and widens towards the rear. It has five to eight yellow lines radiating out from the center, which are easily seen because of the dark brown background. These yellow stripes are how the Spider Tortoise got its name.

Status
Spider tortoise are classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List, listed on Appendix I of CITES and and listed as Endangered under Malagasy National Law.

(References: arkive.org and zoo.org)

Aquarium Works

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Category Archives: Turtles

Takeover Tuesday: Animal Experience Specialist

Takeover Tuesday: Raising a loggerhead sea turtle

It’s World Sea Turtle Day! Meet Frank

Homecoming for Shack, the rescued loggerhead sea turtle

Rescued loggerhead sea turtle ‘yearling’ on his way to the ocean

Rescued Loggerhead sea turtle ready to return to the ocean

Endangered Species Day: Rescued Loggerhead Sea Turtle Enters New Tank

America Recycles Day is November 15

Newport Aquarium to release 1-year-old sea turtle back into wild

See Them While You Can: Pair of Endangered Tortoise Species to Leave Newport Aquarium on March 1

Egyptian Tortoise

Spider Tortoise