Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration

Mystic Aquarium logo
Date opened	1973
Location	Mystic, Connecticut, USA
Coordinates	41°22′29″N 71°57′10″W / 41.3748°N 71.9529°W / 41.3748; -71.9529Coordinates: 41°22′29″N 71°57′10″W / 41.3748°N 71.9529°W / 41.3748; -71.9529
Memberships	AZA,[1] AMMPA
Website	http://www.mysticaquarium.org/

The Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration is an aquarium and oceanography institute in Mystic, Connecticut. The Aquarium is one of only four U.S. facilities nation where people can see Steller sea lions and has one of the largest outdoor Beluga Whale exhibits in the United States. It is also among the first aquariums to attempt artificial insemination on a Beluga Whale. Some other exhibits include a ray and shark touch pool, a penguin exhibit, and a jelly gallery.

The Institute for Exploration features maps, diagrams, and models from Dr. Robert Ballard's explorations of the Black Sea and of the wreck of the RMS Titanic. It is home to the Nautilus Live Theater where guests learn more about Dr. Ballard's more recent explorations and can ask questions directly to crew members on the ship when it is at sea.

The aquarium is a member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA) and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

History

Mystic Aquarium was first opened in 1973 as a privately owned corporation. Industrialist, philanthropist, and principal shareholder Kelvin Smith chose Mystic, Connecticut as the site for the aquarium because of the area's scenic shoreline and rich maritime history. In 1999, the aquarium and Ballard's Institute for Exploration combined to form a $52 million dollar expansion. The expansion featured the Arctic Coast, which is a 1-acre (4,000 m²) outdoor beluga whale display, containing 750,000 US gallons (2,800 m³) of water.^[2] There has also been an additional exhibit added to the Challenge of the Deep exhibit; where Dr. Robert Ballard's explorations are on display. The XD Theater is also running year round at the aquarium featuring four different 3-D movies as well as having a moving theater for a real ride! The movies include "Deep Sea 3-D" as well as Sea Scare and a Roller coaster movie.

Animals

Penguin feeding

Mystic Aquarium is the home of four beluga whales, five Steller sea lions, six California Sea Lions, a Pacific Harbor Seal, a large colony of African Black-footed Penguins, sea stars, Unicorn Fish, Blue Tang, Octopus, Leopard Shark, bamboo sharks, Sheepshead Fish, Horn Sharks, sea turtles, clownfish and other oceanic creatures.

Within the aquarium, there are encounter programs that are also offered for an additional fee. The penguin encounter programs allow you to get up close and personal with one of the African Penguins that are housed there as well as a beluga whale encounter where you are able to touch and stand in the water with a whale. Also, there is a ray touch pool where you are able to feed (offered in the summer) and touch the sting rays.

Staff feeding Pinnipeds at the aquarium

Inuk, a male beluga whale at the aquarium, died on February 20, 2010.

Between September 2008 and May 2009, the aquarium hosted several marine mammals from the Shedd Aquarium while that institution was undergoing a massive renovation to its marine mammal habitat.

National Geographic Society's Crittercam exhibit is currently at the aquarium as of Feb 2011.

References

1. ^ "List of Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. Association of Zoos and Aquariums. http://www.aza.org/current-accreditation-list/. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
2. ^ "History". mysticaquarium.org. Mystic Aquarium. http://www.mysticaquarium.org/about/history. Retrieved 31 August 2010. 

External links

• Official website
• Site for Volunteer Divers at Mystic Aquarium
• Nautilus Live Website