Vancouver Aquarium

Features

Welcome to Waters online

Our member newsletter has been given a facelift and is now sporting the look and feel of our printed Waters Magazine.

We hope you enjoy this first issue. We heard from you that you love Waters, but also that there’s so much that happens at the Vancouver Aquarium, that you want timely and regular updates. So your new Waters monthly newsletter will bring you some favourite Waters features like Aqua Kids and Creature Feature. Plus we’ll now be able to bring you more up-to-date and complete info on What’s On at your Aquarium every month. You’ll also see new features like Doc Talk, where you can write in to ask questions of our veterinarian and read the answers in the following issues.

We reduced our environmental footprint by producing two print issues of Waters instead of three. You’ll receive a Spring issue sharing our annual report and activities, and a Fall issue packed with great feature articles. We hope you’ll agree that we’ve found the right balance between communication and conservation. As always, we value your feedback and look forward to hearing your comments or suggestions on our new newsletter format.

Dr. John Nightingale
President
Vancouver Aquarium

Vancouver Aquarium open daily from 8am during the Games!

The Vancouver Aquarium is gearing up to welcome the world during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Don’t miss the unique exhibits that will be featured from February 12-28th. Here are things to see and things to know:

• Open Daily from 8am*

• A great place to bring visiting friends and family in town for the Games; they enjoy 50% off Admission before 9am*

• A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see an Olympic Torch up close and personal and enjoy a photo!

• Participate in an “Explore Canada” challenge and enjoy daily guided Spotlight on Canada tours

• There are no planned road closures or traffic disruptions for Stanley Park during the Olympic Winter Games.

Find full details online.

* Valid February 12–28 only.
Discount available on-site only.
Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.

Aquarium Heroes

An interview with an Aquarium Volunteer of 40 years,
Evelyn Bell

The volunteer program began with the Vancouver Aquarium’s inception 54 years ago. Through the years we have been privileged to have many talented volunteers exhibiting their support in many ways. Recently, one of our Volunteer Coordinators, Melanie Knight, had a chance to sit down with long time volunteer, Evelyn Bell, to reflect on her 40 year tenure with the Vancouver Aquarium.

M: Evelyn, you celebrated your 40 year anniversary as a volunteer with us this year! What is it that got you started?

E: Well in 1967, I was in the hospital with breast cancer and one of my radiation treatment nurses was a volunteer here. When I got better in June 1967, I started volunteering right away. I went through the training when Murray Newman was still President. It was very small and different then. The school program was called “Secrets of Survival.”

M: And you have been volunteering ever since…42 years!

E: Well the cancer came back in 1975 and I was off for a few years. But I beat it again and came back to school programs - Water Wonders, Marine Mammals and Staying Alive. I used to do a lot in the Clamshell Gift Shop stockroom. I liked that. After the program I would head down there. I liked working with merchandise, folding, seeing all the decorations for Christmas and wrapping up packages.

M: I would like being the first to see all the shiny new things too! I know you are a busy lady, what other things are you involved in?

E: Oh, a lot! I have volunteered at the Stanley Park Lawn Bowling Club since 1978. I really like lawn bowling. I volunteered for eight years with a blind woman and I directed her while she bowled. I was her director and I described where to throw it. She went on to win gold at Nationals and three silvers. I travelled to Edmonton and Toronto with her.

M: Wow! Gold medalist, that is impressive. Have you ever competed?

E: Oh yes, I have won gold at Nationals twice and BC gold in Triples in 1987 and again in 1989.

M: Congratulations! I am sitting with a national champ! Gosh, I am humbled.

E: Now I coach new bowlers. They recently gave me a Lifetime Membership to the club for lifetime achievement and that was a big deal. I never thought that that kind of thing would ever happen.

M: What keeps you volunteering at the Aquarium?

E: My friends, the girls I work with. We have been doing it together for so long, they are like family. The Aquarium is like a second home. Also, I get the car on Tuesdays and I look forward to that.

M: We think of you as family too Evelyn. Thank you for your incredible dedication to this organization over your 40 years with us.

For more information on our Volunteer programs and how you can get involved, please visit our volunteer website or email volunteer@vanaqua.org.

Aquarium Kids

Sea Cucumbers

Written By Derek Jang

Their name probably reminds you of something from the garden, but sea cucumbers are not plants at all. You might not guess that these squishy animals are alive because they move so slowly. However, if you take the time to get to know them, sea cucumbers are full of surprises!

Because they have long bodies and ‘sluggish’ personalities, many people think that sea cucumbers are a kind of slug or snail. In fact, they are much more like sea stars and sea urchins, but unlike these rough-skinned relatives, most sea cucumbers feel squishy when touched.

Because they don’t have any bones, many sea cucumbers would make a tasty snack for bigger animals. The largest sea cucumber in the world, the California sea cucumber (pictured) uses a disguise to scare hunters away. Its skin is covered in fake spines that are full of water, but look quite sharp. Other kinds can hide by burrowing in the ground, or by using hard shell pieces that are built into their skin.

All sea cucumbers have big appetites. They eat tiny living things like algae by scraping rocks with special mouth parts. It takes a lot of algae to fill a sea cucumber’s belly, so they can eat all day long. That might sound like a fun way to live, but there’s a downside – because their mouth end is so busy gathering food, they have to use their bums to breathe! Sea cucumbers don’t worry about having bad breath, though. They have no eyes, nose, or brains at all in their bodies. However, if they get scared, some kinds are able to wiggle their bodies around to swim away from danger.

Altogether, there are more than 1000 different species of sea cucumbers in the ocean, and many live in the waters of British Columbia, including the California sea cucumber. They spend most of their time on the ocean bottom, but you might be lucky enough to find one in the shallow tide pools of Stanley Park if you look carefully. You’ll also see many sea cucumbers in our exhibits, where they help to keep our windows clear of algae.

We often use sea cucumbers in our Wetlab Exploration and Exploring Touchpools programs, which happen at various times throughout the week. You might even get a chance to feel one yourself! Check out the show board or ask someone who works at the Aquarium if and when these programs will run, and keep an eye out for these strange animals in the Treasures of the B.C. Coast, Pacific Canada, and Canada’s Arctic galleries.

Field Notes

Classroom killer whale adoption packages available!

An adoption package is a fabulous way to introduce students to the idea of environmental stewardship, learn about killer whales (a marine mammal), their fragile habitat, and doing the right thing for marine conservation.

Did you know that West Coast killer whales have been found to be the most contaminated marine mammals in the world? Pollution and toxins that enter the ocean bioaccumulate up the food chain. Killer whales are top predators in the ocean and therefore consume large amounts of contaminated food.

To find out more visit the BC Wild Killer Whale Adoption Program website.

Doc Talk

Marty

Meet Dr. Martin Haulena, staff veterinarian at the Vancouver Aquarium. Dr. Haulena leads our animal health team of technicians and volunteers. He and his team work closely with aquarium animals ranging from large marine mammals to fish and even bats! Dr. Haulena’s expertise is applied to the needs of Vancouver Aquarium animals and is also shared internationally with colleagues on various projects. His expertise will also now be shared with you, our members, in this new WATERS feature allowing you to ask “Dr. Marty” your own question about his work with Aquarium animals.

Dr Martin Haulena DVM, MSc, Dipl. ACZM

His special interests are in the medical management of aquatic animals, particularly marine mammals, with emphasis on innovative diagnostic methods such as MRIs, endoscopy and sonography, developing safe anaesthetic protocols, and improving surgical techniques.

Veterinary students from around the world study aquatic animal medicine each year under the direction of Dr. Haulena. He serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University and Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Fisheries Centre.

Q: How do you brush a sea lion’s teeth?

A: You might be surprised to know it’s very similar to how we brush our own teeth. Dental care is a very important aspect of our preventative health program at the Aquarium, especially as animals get older. All of our sea lions will open their mouths and allow us to look very closely at their teeth, gums, tongue and throat. Their teeth are looked at daily by the trainers. Our animals will also allow the use of brushes, Water-Piks and electric toothbrushes that help prevent tooth decay and maintain healthy gums. Most simple dental work is carried out by our veterinary staff. We also work very closely with a board certified veterinary dental specialist.

Q: How do you x-ray a fish?

A: There’s more than one way to do this. The Aquarium has invested in a very sophisticated digital x-ray system that allows to capture and view radiographs almost instantly, store images digitally and use complicated software to manipulate images to help diagnose medical problems. Fish can be placed in a plastic bag or a plastic bucket of water and placed on the x-ray screen to take x-rays. We can also anesthetize larger fish and place them directly on the screen in various positions to take x-rays. Once anesthetized, the fish can be out of water safely for several minutes which is plenty of time to take great radiographs with our state-of-the-art equipment.

Do you have a question about an Aquarium animal? Ask Dr. Marty!

Creature Feature: Amazon Animal Update

Amazon Facts

The Amazon is the most species-rich area of the world. There are ten times as many freshwater fishes in the Amazon as there are in all of Canada. More than 3,000 species of fishes are known to inhabit the Amazon and scientists estimate that half that number remain undiscovered.

The Amazon is also home to 50,000 species of higher plants, and one fifth of the world’s bird species.

Many of the animals and plants in the Amazon are in danger of extinction. The rainforest is being logged at an ever-increasing rate, and we are losing species before we can identify them.

Pacific Parrotlets (Forpus coelestis)

A short time ago, Vancouver Aquarium trainers observed mating behaviours in our pair of Pacific parrotlets in the Amazon gallery, Lucy and Luigi. There have now been four fledglings spotted hoping around from branch to branch. Although we have observed that they are not newly hatched, as they are roughly the same size as the adults, they have only been spotted a handful of times outside of their nest. Pacific parrotlets usually fledge in 4-5 weeks, so keep your eyes open for some new flyers!

Pacific Parrotlets Fun Facts

• The Pacific parrotlet is amongst the smallest within the parrot family.

• A parrotlet's body is made for living in a tropical forest.

• Their bright colours help them to hide from predators amongst the flowers and fruits.

• They range from four to four and a half inches in total length and their colour is typically a bright, smooth green with varying shades of blue and a small, whitish bill.

• All parrots and parrotlets have hooked bills, and this is the best way to identify a parrot or parrotlet.

• Baby parrots and parrotlets are born naked, except for a thin covering of down on their backs.

• Male & Female parrots and parrotlets almost always live together in pairs.

• They enjoy sitting together, rubbing their bills together and preening each other’s feathers.

Programs and Events

Family Programs

Family Programs are held every morning in Clownfish Cove. Monday to Friday, we put the spotlight on a different part of the underwater world using stories, puppets, and interactive activities – check out this month’s schedule to see which animals will be making appearances! You can also join us on weekends and holidays for special shortened programs.

When Vancouver hosts the 2010 Olympic Winter Games from February 12-28, we will begin our morning activities at 10:00am, with a focus on the animals of Canada’s Oceans. The Clownfish Cove touchpools will also be open at 10:30am every day through this period. For the rest of the month, Family Programs will begin as usual at 10:30am. Consult the schedule below for all the details:

Spring Camps for Kids

Join us this Spring Break to learn more about the earth’s changing climate. Through games, experiments, nature walks, hands-on experiences and behind-the-scenes opportunities, you will learn about the environment in which we live and the diversity of life that surrounds us.

Grade 1-2
(2-day program)
March 9-10, 2010
9:30 am – 3:00pm
$162 per child ($129.60 for members)

Grade 3-5
(3-day program)
March 9-11, 2010
9:30 am – 3:00pm
$225 per child ($180 for members)

For more details visit our camps website.

Spring Clubs for Kids

In this series of Spring Clubs, learn more about the planet’s ecosystems. From the Pacific Northwest to the Amazon and the Tropics to the Arctic, children will focus on learning about each area's animals, people and environment. For full details visit the clubs website.

AquaTots (age 3-4)
Parent participation required.

Saturdays – March 27, April 24, May 29, and June 19
10:00 – 11:00am
$30/child per session ($24 for members)
$90 for all four sessions ($72 for members)

Sea Squirts (grade K-2)
Saturdays – March 27, April 24, May 29, and June 19
10:00 – 11:15 am
$35/child per session ($28 for members)
$105 for all four sessions     ($84 for members)

AquaNauts (grade 3-5)
Saturdays – March 27, April 24, May 29, and June 19
1:00 – 2:30 pm
$40/child per session ($32 for members)
$120 for all four sessions     ($96.00 for members)

Ocean Explorers (grade 6-8)
Saturdays – March 27, April 24, May 29, and June 19
1:00 – 3:00 pm
$45/child per session ($36 for members)
$135 for all four sessions     ($108 for members)

PLEASE NOTE:

The discount for all four sessions will only apply if registration occurs prior to the first session. A free T-shirt is included for those who sign up for all four sessions.

Registration will close at 4:30 pm on the Wednesday before each session is offered.

Events

The next Super Saturday is February 6!

Come and start the day with us! We'll be opening the Aquarium early at 8:30 am for Members Only. Adults enjoy complimentary coffee or tea and a copy of the Vancouver Sun, and special family-friendly programs are offered all morning as well.

When you visit the Aquarium, you are surrounded by astounding animal athletes, from hardy hunters to spectacular spitters. On the morning of February 6, creatures as diverse as octopuses, moray eels, and mudskippers will be competing for your votes for the coveted gold medal of Most Outstanding Animal Ability. Our staff will be leading tours of the galleries to show off the sensational superpowers hiding behind the glass. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to see some of our lesser-known residents in action! Doors will open at 8:30, and complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and copies of the Vancouver Sun will be provided. The roving tours will begin at 8:55 am. Questions? Contact Derek.Jang@vanaqua.org for more information.

Updates

Pacific Canada Washroom Trial

Thank you to all members for your cooperation and feedback during our Pacific Canada women’s only washroom trial.

The decision to change the arrangement of the central washrooms was to assess and address flow control issues that arise when long line-ups from the women’s washrooms create bottle-necks in this high traffic area of the Aquarium. This month-long trial has now ended and from staff observations, visitors' and members’ feedback, we have decided to go back to the original arrangement of men’s and women’s washrooms. We have a commitment to respond to our members’ and guests’ needs and do require piloting trials such as this one.

We are always looking for new ways to improve our member and visitor experience.

If you have any feedback, suggestions or comments about your experience, please send us an online comment card or email members@vanaqua.org.