Tag Archives: turtle

See Bravo the Galapagos Tortoise before He’s GalapaGONE

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Kids Get in Free during Winter Family Days, Jan. 7-March 1


NEWPORT, Ky. – The time is now to say goodbye to Bravo, the largest turtle in the Midwest, after Newport Aquarium announced Tuesday the Turtle Canyon exhibit will close March 1.

Bravo, a 650-pound Galapagos tortoise, is scheduled to return to his home at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, S.C. on March 2.

Bravo, a 650-pound Galapagos tortoise, is the largest turtle in the Midwest.

Bravo, a 650-pound Galapagos tortoise, is the largest turtle in the Midwest.

Upon Bravo’s departure from Newport Aquarium, the Turtle Canyon exhibit will temporarily close for renovations. The greenhouse-like facility will re-open as a new exhibit in mid-March. Details will be revealed at a Jan. 14 news conference.

To coincide with Bravo’s final days in Greater Cincinnati, Newport Aquarium also announced the return of Winter Family Days, when two children are admitted FREE with each full-priced adult ticket.*

This family-favorite offer will be available from Jan. 7 through March 1, during which time the aquarium will open one hour early at 9 a.m. every Saturday and holiday weekend.

Your kids will have fun inside our 72-degree climate-controlled facility, no matter the weather outside.

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At Newport Aquarium, there is always more new to see and do:

  • Turtle Canyon – Features a diverse collection of more than 14 species of turtles that span three continents, including Bravo and Thunder, an over 100-year-old snapping turtle.
  • Surrounded by Sharks – Guests can walk through a 385,000-gallon tank filled with four rare and exotic shark rays, six species of shark, and Denver, the mischievous 200-pound loggerhead sea turtle.
  • Gator Alley – Showcasing six species of crocodilians from four continents, Gator Alley has one of the most diverse collections of crocodilian species in the country. It’s the home of Mighty Mike – who at 14-feet long and 800 pounds is the biggest and baddest alligator in the country outside of Florida, as well as Snowball and Snowflake, two of less than 100 white alligators in the world.
  • Kroger Penguin Palooza – With five different sub-Antarctic penguin species totaling 49 birds, Kroger Penguin Palooza boasts one of the most diverse collections of cold-weather penguins in the country.
  • Frog Bog – Children have never seen frogs like this before as they can find secret frog tanks visible only when they climb through tunnels and tubes in the kids-only Frog Bog jungle gym. Frog Bog is the largest exhibit of its kind in the Midwest with nearly 20 species of exotic frogs.
  • Jellyfish Gallery – With more than one hundred jellyfish on display, guests will marvel at the largest and coolest jellyfish exhibit in the Midwest.

Beginning Jan. 6, Winter Family Days tickets will be available at the Newport Aquarium ticket window, online at NewportAquarium.com or by phone at 800-406-FISH (3474).

*This special offer cannot be combined with other discounts or coupons.

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Newport Aquarium, voted the No. 1 aquarium in the country according to USA Today’s 10Best.com in 2012, has showcased thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons of water since 1999. Named a top U.S. aquarium by US City Traveler in 2014 and by Travel Channel in 2013, 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 is located across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati at Newport on the Levee.

Find us on: Facebook.com/NewportAquarium | Twitter: @NewportAquarium

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

JOURNEY OF SURVIVAL: Tilly set to return to Atlantic Ocean

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(Videos of Tilly during her stay at Newport Aquarium the past year. Notice how much she grew in each video!)

NEWPORT, Ky. — Tilly, Newport Aquarium‘s 1-year-old loggerhead sea turtle, is set to be released into the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday.

Her return to the coastal shores of North Carolina is part of Newport Aquarium’s participation in the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s Sea Turtle Project.

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Tilly weighs nearly 10 pounds as of Oct. 28, 2014.

As part of the Sea Turtle Project, newly hatched turtles that do not immediately venture to water, and therefore are most vulnerable to not survive, are rescued and nurtured for typically one year until they are healthy and strong enough to be released into the wild.

This program is crucial for the survival of sea turtles, which are federally protected and on the endangered species list. It’s estimated that only one in 1,000 sea turtles survive to adulthood.

Tilly was hatched at the beginning of August in Emerald Isle, N.C., and was no larger than the size of a 50-cent piece when she was given to Newport Aquarium staff.

A closeup of Newport Aquarium's new baby loggerhead from Dec. 17, 2013.

A closeup of Tilly from Dec. 17, 2013.

Tilly arrived at Newport Aquarium in October 2013. During her initial veterinarian visit at a North Carolina animal facility on Aug. 8, 2013, she was weighed at 54 grams, which is less than the weight of 11 nickels.

Her most recent recorded weight was over 4.5 kilograms (almost 10 pounds), which puts above the threshold to be satellite tagged.

The baby loggerhead checked in at 487 grams on Jan. 6, 2014.

The baby loggerhead checked in at 487 grams on Jan. 6, 2014.

A satellite tag will be placed on her shell on Tuesday, Nov. 4, which will allow people to track her whereabouts online. She will be the second turtle that Newport Aquarium has satellite tagged in its 15-year history. The last was Fisher in 2003.

The WAVE Foundation, Newport Aquarium’s nonprofit partner, financed Tilly’s tagging as part of its conservation and education initiatives.

After Tilly is released, Newport Aquarium staffers will return to Northern Kentucky with a new hatchling turtle next week and begin the adoption process all over.

We will be sure to share the link to follow Tilly once it becomes available.

Alligator Snapping Turtle Thunder is a Newport Aquarium Mainstay

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At more than 100 years old, Thunder the alligator snapping turtle is the oldest animal at Newport Aquarium.

At more than 100 years old, Thunder the alligator snapping turtle is the oldest animal at Newport Aquarium.

If you came to Newport Aquarium when it opened to the public May 15, 1999, chances are you got to see our large alligator snapping turtle, graciously named Thunder.

If you’ve been to Newport Aquarium recently, chances are you’ve also spotted Thunder.

At more than 100 years old, not only is Thunder the oldest animal at Newport Aquarium, he’s also one of the original animals to go on display when we first opened.

Since the aquarium opened, Thunder has been in a tank near the Gator Alley exhibit. That is up until last week, when he was moved to the “Temple tank” at the new Turtle Canyon exhibit, which opens to the public March 22.

Alligator snapping turtles are one of the largest turtle species in North America. Across the U.S., populations of turtle species – including alligator snapping turtles – face a variety of environmental issues including water quality, habitat loss or degradation and hunting.

Saved from a butcher’s block, Thunder was rescued from a Louisiana market because of his large size. He moved to a turtle farm in Missouri before calling Newport Aquarium his home.

Due to both these natural and synthetic factors, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service lists alligator snapping turtles as an endangered species. These factors are also why it’s rare to see an alligator snapping turtle the size of Thunder in the wild.

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Thunder, like other alligator snapping turtles, is an ambush predator and prefers to hide and wait for his food to swim by. Then – SNAP – he catches it by surprise.

Newport Aquarium biologists describe Thunder as a picky eater, especially when it comes to mackerel. He gets fed roughly twice per week, but can go weeks without eating due to the low amount of calories needed.

Often you can find smaller fish swimming in the tank with Thunder as he awaits for a larger, more appetizing meal. If fish enter his tank small and grow to be medium-to-large sized, Thunder probably will not try to eat them. However, if you were to throw in a large bass into his tank, after an about hour chances are Thunder has taken a bite out of it.

One of the unique personality traits of Thunder is his penchant to practice yoga in the mornings; keepers often spot him stretching out his limbs first thing in the a.m.

Visit Newport Aquarium’s official blog – aquariumworks.org – to read #TurtleTuesday updates.

Newport Aquarium Named a Top-10 U.S. Aquarium by US City Traveler

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NAQview

NEWPORT, Ky. – Newport Aquarium on Monday was named a top-10 United States aquarium by US City Traveler.

Newport Aquarium was ranked the No. 9 U.S. aquarium in an article written by US City Traveler’s founder Taylor Goldblatt, whose work has been featured by National Geographic, “The New York Times”, “Lonely Planet”, “The Washington Post” and Travel Channel.

US City Traveler’s top-10 ranking is the latest accolade Newport Aquarium has garnered over the years.

In October 2013, Travel Channel listed the Northern Kentucky destination as a top U.S. aquarium. In 2012, Newport Aquarium was voted the No. 1 aquarium in the 10Besties Readers’ Choice Travel Awards on the website 10best.com, a property of USA Today.

Newport Aquarium’s list of national honors kicked off in 2004, when it was voted the best aquarium in the Midwest in Zagat Survey’s U.S. Family Travel Guide.

NAQ_TurtleCanyon-Poster2014In its continuous efforts to provide guests with more new to see and do, Newport Aquarium will open its latest exhibit, Turtle Canyon, on March 22. Turtle Canyon will feature more than 14 turtle species from three continents, including two of the largest in the world: a Galapagos tortoise named Bravo, who at approximately 650 pounds is the biggest turtle in the Midwest; and Thunder, a more than 100-year-old, 118-pound alligator snapping turtle.

Bravo is a more than 600-pound Galapagos tortoise, the largest species of land turtle in the world. (Photo courtesy of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden)

Bravo is a more than 600-pound Galapagos tortoise, the largest species of land turtle in the world. (Photo courtesy of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden)

The new exhibit will also include a Turtle Corral, which will offer guests the unique opportunity to touch a variety of tortoises, including one of North America’s largest tortoise species, the Gopher tortoise.

For more information on Turtle Canyon, visit NewportAquarium.com or call toll free 800-406-FISH (3474).

Editor’s Note: The US City Traveler article mentions the old Rainforest exhibit, which has been replaced by Turtle Canyon. It also mentions white alligators, which are no longer on display at Newport Aquarium.

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 Newport Aquarium, the No. 1 aquarium in the country according to USA Today’s 10Best.com, showcases thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons of water. Named a 2013 top U.S. aquarium by Travel Channel, 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 is located across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati at Newport on the Levee.

 Find us on: Facebook.com/NewportAquarium | Twitter: @NewportAquarium

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

Turtle Canyon to Open at Newport Aquarium in March 2014

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Newport Aquarium will feature three of the largest turtle species in the world

NAQ_TurtleCanyon-Poster2014

NEWPORT, Ky. – Newport Aquarium announced Tuesday, Feb. 18, the addition of Turtle Canyon, a thrilling new exhibit set to open to the public March 22, 2014.

Turtle Canyon will feature a diverse collection of more than 14 species spanning three continents. From the largest tortoise species in the world, the Galapagos tortoise, to the smallest tortoise species in the Northern Hemisphere, the Egyptian tortoise, Turtle Canyon will showcase turtles of all shapes and sizes.

Following a renovation of the Rainforest exhibit, Turtle Canyon will allow guests to view turtles up close and personal from multiple angles and vantage points. The new exhibit will include a turtle corral, which offers guests the unique opportunity to touch a variety of these adorable shelled creatures, including one of North America’s largest tortoise species, the Gopher tortoise.

Two massive turtles are set to anchor the exhibits inside Turtle Canyon, giving Newport Aquarium a total of three of the largest turtle species in the world.

Bravo is a more than 600-pound Galapagos tortoise, the largest species of land turtle in the world. (Photo courtesy of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden)

Bravo is a more than 600-pound Galapagos tortoise, the largest species of land turtle in the world. (Photo courtesy of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden)

A 118-pound alligator snapping turtle named Thunder will make his new digs at Turtle Canyon. Believed to be more than 100 years of age, Thunder is the oldest resident at Newport Aquarium.

At more than 100 years old, Thunder the alligator snapping turtle is the oldest animal at Newport Aquarium.

At more than 100 years old, Thunder the alligator snapping turtle is the oldest animal at Newport Aquarium.

Newport Aquarium mainstay Denver, the mischievous 200-pound loggerhead sea turtle with a three-foot-long shell, will continue to roam the waters of the Surrounded by Sharks exhibit. When he first arrived at Newport in 2003, Denver was treated for an air pocket caught under his shell that made it difficult for him to dive and swim. Now completely healed, Denver serves as the aquarium’s ambassador to its sea turtle conservation efforts.

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

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

The newest member of the aquarium’s turtle family is a sixth-month-old, 1.9-pound loggerhead who was put on display at the Shore Gallery exhibit on Tuesday. After hatching in August at Emerald Isle, N.C., this female loggerhead has been fostered by the Newport Aquarium husbandry staff since late October. Her journey of survival has been documented on Newport Aquarium’s official blog, aquariumworks.org.

Newport Aquarium needs your help naming its young loggerhead sea turtle. Fans can vote on Newport Aquarium's Facebook page from Feb. 18-24, 2014.

Newport Aquarium needs your help naming its young loggerhead sea turtle. Fans can vote on Newport Aquarium’s Facebook page from Feb. 18-24, 2014.

Fans can help name this young loggerhead by voting on Newport Aquarium’s Facebook page. Voting begins Feb. 18 and runs through Feb. 24.

For more information on Turtle Canyon, visit NewportAquarium.com or call toll free 800-406-FISH (3474). Visit the aquarium’s Facebook page for #TurtleTuesday posts.

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Newport Aquarium, the No. 1 aquarium in the country according to USA Today’s 10Best.com, showcases thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons of water. Named a 2013 top U.S. aquarium by Travel Channel, 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 is located across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati at Newport on the Levee.

Find us on: Facebook.com/NewportAquarium | Twitter: @NewportAquarium

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

JOURNEY OF SURVIVAL: Young Sea Turtle at Newport Aquarium is Bursting With Energy

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Newport Aquarium's young loggerhead sea turtle is not camera shy.

Newport Aquarium’s young loggerhead sea turtle is not camera shy.

Most parents can agree that infants can be quite the handful. Between changing diapers, feeding, calming down cries, and burning off their energy; caring for a baby is a round-the-clock venture.

Aquatic Biologist Jen Hazeres and her assistants face similar realities while rearing Newport Aquarium’s six-month-old loggerhead sea turtle.

Our young loggerhead has displayed playful behavior and a curious attitude during her time at Newport Aquarium. She is a growing ball of energy, which was why she was moved from a 90-gallon tank to a 250-gallon tank on Jan. 7.

She is extremely close to going on exhibit, which will help her mental growth as she learns to interact with other animals in a new environment.

Most times when our baby loggerhead is taken out of her tank, she can be seen tirelessly waving her front flippers.

Exactly three months to the day her weight was recorded (70 grams) at Newport Aquarium for the first time, she weighed in at 664 grams (1.46 pounds) on Jan. 27.

She is getting wider, but the goal is take sure her width coincides with her length so she doesn’t become overweight.

As long as Newport Aquarium husbandry keeps the loggerhead’s weight on target, “This turtle is going to be just fine,” says Hazeres.

To help the loggerhead continue to gain the proper weight, she is currently being fed 10 grams of food twice a day. In the morning she eats a clay substance filled with vitamins and minerals. In the afternoon she gets to snack on small animals, such as silverside fish, and never leaves so much as a crumb – a sure sign of positive physical growth.

Eating a silverside fish head first is a positive sign that the young loggerhead is more comfortable with her swimming abilities.

Eating a silverside fish head first is a positive sign that the young loggerhead is more comfortable with her swimming abilities.

She does not mind the clay food in the morning, as evidenced by last week’s video of her scarfing down her breakfast in one minute.

Visit Newport Aquarium’s official blog – aquariumworks.org – to read #TurtleTuesday updates on the baby sea turtle’s progress.