Blog

Just as people go to the doctor or dentist for regular check-ups, the animals in our care also get regular check-ups. Get the inside scoop as Senior Veterinarian Dr. Caitlin Hadfield shares details about fur seal Leu’s recent exam.

The Seattle Aquarium needs your help. We have joined in the fun and are participating in this year’s Survive the Sound competition that is being hosted by one of our conservation partners, Long Live the Kings.

At the Seattle Aquarium, we believe that sustainability starts at home—meaning that it’s important for us to model the practices we promote as part of our quest to improve ocean health. Our sustainability efforts are reflected everywhere in our facility—including our café.

Here at the Seattle Aquarium, we’re committed to sustainability—which means adopting green practices in our facility, sharing what we’re doing with our visitors, and promoting sustainable choices in the community at large.

Each year since 2009, the Seattle Aquarium has sent a team of staff members to Hawaii to conduct reef fish and coral health research along the northwestern side of the Big Island. Get an insider’s glimpse at this year’s trip with notes and pictures from Aquarium Curator of Conservation Research Shawn Larson.

Molalla has a roomie! We’re delighted to announce the arrival of Ahanu, an 8-year-old male North American river otter. Ahanu was born at the Oakland Zoo in California on February 14, 2011 and transferred to the Denver Zoo when he was 2 years old. His name means "he laughs" in the Native American Algonquian language.

Each year since 2009, the Seattle Aquarium has sent a team of staff members to Hawaii to conduct reef fish and coral health research along the northwestern side of the Big Island. Get an insider’s glimpse at this year’s trip with notes and pictures from Aquarium Curator of Conservation Research Shawn Larson.

The Seattle Aquarium launched yearly giant Pacific octopus (GPO) surveys in 2000 in an attempt to answer a question often heard at the octopus exhibit: how many GPOs live in Puget Sound?

The Governor’s Orca Emergency Response package, currently being debated in the state legislature, includes bills to reduce vessel noise and disturbance (HB 1580/SB 5577). The Seattle Aquarium has recently been to Olympia to testify in support of this legislation.

Jellyfish, that is! It takes a lot of moon jellies (between 150 and 200) to fill our popular Ring of Life exhibit—and that’s why we grow our own, behind the scenes in small tanks called “kreisels.” The jellies start out as polyps and, in about six to eight months, when juveniles have matured to a larger size, they can be moved into the exhibit.

In the world of animal care, “enrichment” refers to experiences that offer animals an opportunity to satisfy their behavioral needs, optimize their level of mental stimulation and create a rich, variable environment. And, lucky for us, offering enrichments to our animals also enriches the visitor experience for our guests!

Recently members of our Youth Ocean Advocates program traveled to Olympia to advocate in support of new laws to help protect our environment. The teen volunteers met with legislators to discuss various policy and to learn about the legislative process. Below is a recap from Olivia Schroeder who took a moment to share her experience participating in Seattle Aquarium’s advocacy day. Thank you Olivia!