Animal Care Archives - Seattle Aquarium

Helping hands: lending expertise to marine mammal rehabilitation in California

Posted on May 29, 2025June 2, 2025 by Emma Leiser

This spring, a toxic algal bloom has sickened hundreds of California sea lions, elephant seals and other marine animals along the Southern California coast. The team at the nonprofit Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC) in Los Angeles has been hard at work, rescuing and rehabilitating animals who have become too sick to survive on their own. And they recently called on our own Senior Veterinary Technician Lindy McMorran to assist in their life-saving efforts.

Senior Veterinary Technician Lindy McMorran on the beach after releasing a rehabilitated California sea lion back to the ocean.

Domoic acid—not part of a healthy diet

The cause of all the illness? Domoic acid, a neurotoxin that’s produced by harmful algae called Pseudo-nitzschia. In the right conditions, the algae can multiply quickly, causing a bloom. The algae contain toxins; when ingested in sufficient quantity, they can sicken marine mammals or birds that eat them. Without human intervention, domoic acid in marine mammals can result in seizures, unusual behaviors and, ultimately, death.

Such blooms have become relatively common and they’re on the increase—this is the fourth year in a row that the experts at the MMCC have needed to respond to animals on Southern California shorelines following a bloom. Adding to the concern, this year’s bloom started earlier than the previous ones; the MMCC has already had more patients (meaning marine mammals) come through their hospital in 2025 than in all of 2024. Scientists suspect that climate change and warming seas are the root cause of the increase in these harmful algal blooms.

California sea lion patients in care at the MMCC.

The MMCC (and Lindy!) to the rescue

The best hope for animals with domoic acid poisoning is to provide supportive care to assist with recovery, flushing the toxin from their systems and helping to manage the symptoms. But first, the animals must be rescued from the beach and brought to an authorized rehabilitation facility, such as the MMCC’s hospital.

“Animals might stay for as little as a few weeks to multiple months,” says Lindy. Recovery time depends on a number of factors, including the animal’s species, weight, age, severity and chronicity of symptoms, and more. “If they’re older or have had a longer exposure to domoic acid, it’s tougher on them,” Lindy adds.

An ideal skill set to help during the crisis

Lindy is uniquely qualified to assist in these efforts. As a veterinary technician, she’s been trained to work with a variety of animals but she’s concentrated her work on marine animals in particular. Before joining us at the Aquarium, she did a sea turtle rehabilitation internship in Florida and helped with marine mammal rehabilitation in Northern California. She also volunteered with SR3, a local organization focused on marine animal rescue and rehabilitation. And, impressively, she was the second person in the continental U.S. to earn a new credential, Certified Aquatic Veterinary Technician, from the World Aquarium Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA), in 2023. (Check out our web story to learn more!)

Lindy at the Seattle Aquarium’s sea otter habitat.

A day in the Lindy life

“There was no day that was the same,” says Lindy, speaking about her week with the MMCC. “I assisted with exit exams and medical procedures, processed lab samples, did a lot of cleaning—whatever was needed, I was happy to help. It allowed the team to catch their breath a bit and that was wonderful to see.”

“By the time I arrived on May 12, they were already admitting fewer patients than in the previous few weeks and were working on releasing patients who had been rehabilitated,” she continues. “What was impactful was seeing the shift. On my first day, we had over 80 patients; by the last day, it was more like 50.”

“We typically see about 300 patients per year, and that’s what we budget for. By April we had already over 400 patients. MMCC’s capacity is stretched when these mass strandings occur, and without the support of our network of partners we would struggle to care for our patients. Organizations like the Seattle Aquarium stepped up for us in a time of need and we are so grateful for their help.”

—Dave Bader, Chief Operations & Education Officer, Marine Mammal Care Center

Releasing recovered animals—the very best part

Lindy was also able to assist with releases, one of the most rewarding aspects of her time with the MMCC. Animals who have received a clean bill of health are brought to a beach in crates and, after a team member opens the door, what happens next is up to the individual. “Each animal has their own exit,” comments Lindy. “Some stay, some bolt to the water, some exit and then need to take a nap on the beach,” she laughs. “It’s a great reminder that they’re all unique.”

“Due to the hard work and dedication of MMCC’s staff and volunteers, we were able to release about 25 animals while I was there,” she concludes. “I was grateful for the opportunity to provide a little help during a challenging time.”

Lindy McMorran assists with the release of a California sea lion. Herding boards are used to help direct animals toward the water, protecting the animals and any nearby people.

A cautionary tale

“Algal blooms are an increasing concern,” says Lindy, “And the kind of thing that’s taking place in Southern California could also happen in the Pacific Northwest.” As we noted at the top of this story, climate change and warming ocean waters are thought to be behind the increase in harmful algal blooms.

The good news is that each of us can make a difference for ocean health. A few ideas: Contact your legislators to urge support for legislation that protects the ocean and its inhabitants. Use public transportation, fly less, and limit your use of single-use plastics. Sign up for coastal/beach cleanups, as well as opportunities along rivers, streams and creeks—most of which drain into Earth’s one ocean. Looking for other ideas? Check out our act for the ocean webpage or ask one of our friendly interpreters on your next visit to the Aquarium!

Quiz: Which Aquarium otter is your alter ego?

Posted on May 21, 2025May 21, 2025 by Emma Leiser

Farewell to Barney

Posted on March 14, 2025March 14, 2025 by Emma Leiser

It’s a very sad day at the Seattle Aquarium as we say goodbye to Barney the harbor seal. As we shared last September, in a story commemorating his birthday, Barney was quite old: At 39, he was roughly the equivalent of a 100-year-old human—and one of the oldest known harbor seals in human care.

Beloved by many, Barney will be deeply missed and remembered always with love.

Director of Animal Health Dr. Caitlin Hadfield and members of our veterinary and animal care teams had been working closely with Barney for years, making sure he was as happy and comfortable as possible. Just like many elderly humans, he developed some age-related health issues over time but overall had been doing well.

Recently, however, he showed an acute decline. Based on his prognosis and how he was feeling—his quality of life—the team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize him on the morning of March 14. “We know that many in the community will join the Aquarium’s staff and volunteers in mourning this loss. Barney will be remembered and missed,” says Aquarium President and CEO Bob Davidson.

Barney getting ready to tuck into his 39th birthday ice treat on September 14, 2024.

Barney was the first harbor seal to be born here at the Aquarium, in 1985. He shaped many caregivers over his long life and was cherished by all, particularly for his easygoing and inquisitive nature. “I knew Barney for 19 years and my appreciation of him only grew as time passed,” comments Animal Care Specialist Cheryl Becker. Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, who had worked with Barney since joining the Aquarium in 2017, notes, “Barney had great trust in his human caregivers and his home. He had a number of health concerns over the last few years and we learned a lot from each other. I’m proud of the care the animal care staff provided, and that we were able to help ensure that his end of life was peaceful.”

Barney will be remembered as a wonderful, one-of-a-kind ambassador for the Seattle Aquarium. “He inspired a stronger curiosity about the ocean in millions of people—a curiosity that inspired action for conservation of our marine environment,” says Bob Davidson.

Even at his advanced age, Barney clearly relished his favorite foods.

“In my childhood bedroom is a box filled with my most precious memories. Paramount among them is a series of photos of me as a child at the Seattle Aquarium, including one where I’m smiling beside a harbor seal who happens to be Barney! In many ways, subtle and overt, he played a role in shaping who I am. Choosing a career in animal care, grounding my purpose in life to bring people’s focus and empathy to conservation, staying committed to being silly in my age and, of course, only eating what I want. In the two decades since the photos were taken, I had the immense pleasure of playing a small role in caring for Barney. Thank you, Barney, for watching me grow, encouraging me to learn, allowing me to try to pay it all back in fish—thank you Barney, thank you.”

——Cyren Guerrero, Life Sciences/Operations relief

Barney was a beloved icon here at the Aquarium and, over his nearly 40 years, touched the hearts of countless visitors, volunteers and staff. Says Supervisor of Birds and Mammals Mariko Bushcamp, “Barney and I were the same age and I knew him for nearly half my life.” She speaks for all of us when she adds, “You’ll leave a big hole—but thank you for all the memories, Barn.”

Barney enjoying a moment in the sun.

Dive down memory lane with us to celebrate Barney’s birthday bash!

Posted on September 14, 2024June 9, 2025 by Emma Leiser

Barney the harbor seal was born right here at the Seattle Aquarium on September 14, 1985—that’s right, 39 years ago! And he’s been stealing the hearts of staff and guests alike ever since, while inspiring millions to help protect his beloved and charismatic species.

“Barney remains one of the oldest harbor seals in human care—possibly the world—that we know of,” notes Curator of Birds & Mammals Veronica Seawall. Here at the Aquarium, we have a number of geriatric, or elderly, animals entrusted to our care, and our expert team works hard to create environments that meet their evolving needs as they age. (Interested in learning more? Read all about how we provide expert animal care at every age.)

Now that Barney’s in his golden years, he enjoys the simple things in life, like a nice nap in the sunshine, getting his teeth brushed daily and eating some of his favorite snacks, including all things fish. He’s also a fan of his birthday celebrations, as you’ll see in the photos below. Dive down memory lane to revisit some of those celebrations with us as we commemorate Barney’s 39th!

2024

Centennial celebration—happy 39th, Barney!

According to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), of which we’re proud to be an accredited member, the median life expectancy for harbor seals in zoos and aquariums is about 25 years. At 39, Barney has lived well beyond that. In fact, his biological age is about the equivalent of a 100-year-old human!

Give him—and his caretakers—some love on our Facebook or Instagram to mark the occasion.

2023

38 years young!

Barney’s 38th birthday bash was complete with a “cake” made from ice and 38 frozen fish!

2022

37 looks good on you

We welcomed harbor seal Casey earlier in 2022, and all three “roomies”—Barney, Hogan and Casey— dug into a delicious, fish-filled ice treat together.

2021

Having his cake and eating it too

Barney rang in his 36th birthday by tucking into a towering ice treat “cake.”

2020

Pandemic party

While we couldn’t invite the public to celebrate with Barney because of our temporary, pandemic-related closure, our incredible animal care team made sure he felt the birthday love.

2015

Just another enriching birthday

Animals at the Aquarium receive enrichment every day (read more about it on our webpage). Special occasions, like Barney’s 30th, give our animal care team a fun reason to get creative with it.

2013

28 and looking great!

In 2013, Barney celebrated his birthday with cake in his habitat’s new haul-out space*! Generous support from people like you allowed us to renovate and expand the harbor seal habitat back then.

*What’s that? Space that the seals use to go onto dry land to nap, groom, cooperatively participate in their own health care and, in Barney’s case, eat a birthday treat.

Your gift today will make a difference too: Please consider a donation of $19.85, $39 or any amount on behalf of Barney’s birthday!

2012

Awww, you shouldn’t have

Shown here in the habitat’s previous haul-out space, Barney looks ready to devour the ice treat that our animal care team prepared for him.

2011

Stealth celebration

What’s better on your 26th birthday than a delicious ice treat, just waiting for you to notice it as you casually swim by?

2010

Blow out the candles!

Here’s a throwback to Barney’s 25th! Our animal care team went all out with an ice treat complete with “candles” for him to crunch and munch.

1985

Baby Barney’s birth day

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

How’s this for a sweet, vintage photo of newborn Barney alongside his mom, Clyde? For perspective on how long ago that was in terms of other Pacific Northwest icons, Barney was born the same year that downtown Seattle’s tallest skyscraper, Columbia Center, opened; two years before the band Nirvana was formed; and 15 years before the Kingdome was demolished. Just our humble opinion, of course, but we think he’s the best and most charming icon of the bunch. Happy, happy 39th to beloved Barney!

Health care for feathered friends at the Aquarium: A birds-eye view

Posted on May 8, 2024May 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

This story is part of our series, The Doctor Is In—highlighting our veterinary team’s expertise in service of animal wellbeing.

It’s not just marine mammals at the Aquarium who are trained to cooperatively participate in their own health care. The birds entrusted to us participate in their own care too. How do they do it? By eating!

“Animal care staff can closely monitor food consumption to help assess health,” says Supervisor of Birds and Mammals Sara Perry. “We count how many and what type of fish or bug each bird eats during the day. Overall behavior during a feeding can tell us a lot about the wellness of the bird as well.”

Working toward the clean plate club

When feeding alcids (including the common murres, rhinoceros auklet and tufted puffins in our care), staff can also deliver specific vitamins or necessary medications, expertly hidden in a tasty fish. It’s similar to how parents of young children may “hide” vegetables in a favorite food!

The comparison to human children doesn’t stop there: Animal care staff often need to be creative and patient when feeding birds. “They’re not like a sea otter who will usually eat anything at any time, or a seal who just gulps fish down. Ask any of our staff, feeding the birds takes finesse!” Sara laughs. “We rely on our knowledge of each bird, their behavior and their preferences—depending on time of year—and apply it to a group setting.”

"You look like you haven't aged a bit!"

Here at the Seattle Aquarium, we have a good number of elderly birds in our care. But it’s hard to know that just by looking at them. Why? Birds don’t show graying of feathers as they age, unlike the graying or lightening of hair and fur of mammals (including us humans!)—so it’s not possible to estimate age based on that indicator.

Birds do show other age-related changes that are seen in mammals, though. For instance, their mobility and vision may deteriorate over time, their appetites may change, and they may rest more than younger birds. “Our Aquarium staff know each bird as an individual, which allows us to adjust feeding and spaces to help the older ones,” comments Director of Animal Health Dr. Caitlin Hadfield. “It’s all in the name of taking the best possible care of each bird at the Aquarium for their whole lives.”

Did you know?

All the birds (and mammals) at the Seattle Aquarium fall into one of two categories—they were either born at a zoo or aquarium or they were rescued and have been deemed non-releasable according to the guidelines established by government agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and policies such as the Migratory Bird Act.

Providing the very best care and quality of life for the animals entrusted to us—at all stages of their lives—is a vital part of our mission, Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. Learn more about birds at the Aquarium on our website or, better yet, plan a visit with us soon!

Inside the world of “enFISHment”—enrichment for fish!

Posted on April 16, 2024April 16, 2024 by Emma Leiser

You’ve probably seen pictures or videos of animals at the Seattle Aquarium enjoying enrichment. Maybe you’ve caught sight of a sea otter receiving a treat during training or a giant Pacific octopus solving a puzzle. But did you know that every animal at the Aquarium receives enrichment—including the fish?

In animal care, enrichment includes experiences and care that allow animals to exercise their natural behavior or instincts, stimulate themselves physically or mentally, and experience an environment that meets their needs. And while that can look like toys, puzzles and training, it also includes sensory experiences, feedings, habitat elements and social opportunities.

For fish, enrichment usually includes changing up their environment, providing appropriate habitats for each species, thoughtful feeding techniques and other good animal care practices. In fact, much of the daily care for these animals contributes to enrichment in some way.

As an institution accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)—a global independent nonprofit that holds its member zoos and aquariums to the highest standards—the Seattle Aquarium submits our enrichment plans for AZA review and approval. Our team also keeps detailed enrichment logs, to ensure we’re meeting each animal’s requirements.

Mindful meals

Our team puts a lot of thought into how they feed fish, as mealtime is a great time to satisfy different species’ physical and behavioral needs. The method of food distribution plays a part in this. In most large, mixed-species habitats—where fish often share space with plants and invertebrates like sea stars, anemones, corals and crustaceans—food is dispersed throughout the water. But that doesn’t mean food is simply dropped in.

Aquarists can release food near the pump in a habitat, so the current carries it away. The fish chase after it, just like they would hunt food in the ocean. Team members can also vary where in the habitat they release food, to give the fish a sense of novelty and allow them to find food independently. To mimic natural grazing behaviors, animal caretakers give tropical fish lettuce for them to munch on. And aquarists at our offsite Animal Care Center—where future Ocean Pavilion residents now live—regularly place Manila clams in the spotted eagle rays habitat, which fulfills the rays’ natural desire to sift through the sand for food and exercise their plate-like teeth.

Some of the larger fish at the Animal Care Center, like sharks and rays, participate in target training during certain feeding times. Aquarists signal feeding time using a whistle and have the animals touch a target—which is a different shape and color for each species—before being rewarded with food. This training builds trust and prepares the animals for how they’ll eat and receive veterinary care in their buzzing, multi-species habitat at the Ocean Pavilion. See the process for yourself in our Animal Care Stories!

Change is a good thing!

We could all use a change of scenery every once in a while. To keep fish stimulated and mimic the ever-changing conditions in the ocean, aquarists regularly change up parts of their habitats. That can mean moving around rockwork or other physical pieces of the habitat. Team members can also adjust the water flow for a change of pace.

Habitat cleaning keeps things fresh in more ways than one! It’s a great time to make some positive changes to a space. Cleaning walls, rockwork and substrate naturally shifts the habitat’s landscape.

The cleaning process—undertaken by knowledgeable aquarists—also introduces something new to animals’ environments. Usually, that novelty comes in the form of a scrubber, scraper, grabber or even a pair of hands. During a cleaning, aquarists are attuned to any animal that seems particularly startled by a new object in their environment, though most animals at the Aquarium quickly acclimate to these routine cleanings.

Keeping an eye out

But how can aquarists know that fish enrichment is effective? Through observational work!

By paying close attention, aquarists can make note of how the animals respond to enrichment time. If animals seem bright and alert during feedings—like a bay pipefish hunting for its food—that’s a good sign. Aquarists also keep an eye out to make sure all animals in a habitat get a chance to eat.

Through their daily care, aquarists get to know the behavior of individual fish pretty well. Understanding these animals’ habits helps inform decisions about their care. For example, a clown triggerfish at the Animal Care Center had such a bold personality, that aquarists decided to move him to a habitat with larger fish where he could really assert himself.

We can learn a lot about the fish in our care this way. Fish are smarter and more alert than some people give them credit for. They take notice too! Don’t believe it? Then you should see the way some fish follow an aquarist’s movements during feeding time. They know when it’s time for some tasty enrichment.

Urchins, anemones and sea stars, oh my! Invertebrate care at the Seattle Aquarium

Posted on April 3, 2024April 11, 2024 by Emma Leiser

This story is part of our series, The Doctor Is In—highlighting our veterinary team’s expertise in service of animal wellbeing.

Invertebrates—animals without backbones—are found in every habitat at the Seattle Aquarium. And, like all animals entrusted to us, they need expert care to thrive. “Our goal is to provide great quality of life in an enriching environment for the animal’s whole life,” says Director of Animal Health Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, MA VetMB MRCVS DiplAZCM DipECZM, “And that goes for all the animals under our care.”

“All the invertebrates get checked by Aquarium staff at least once every day,” she comments, “Their environmental conditions are checked as well—that includes evaluating the water and the systems that support it.” Although some invertebrates may seem like fairly simple animals on the surface, managing their care, says Dr. Hadfield, presents some interesting challenges. One of them stems from tracking the number of animals of each species because some, like corals, can be colonial. “It gets tricky,” says Dr. Hadfield. “Do we track this as one animal—a coral head certainly looks like one structure—or as the thousands of polyps that make up that structure?”

Even invertebrates need primary care providers

Regardless of how they’re counted, invertebrates, like all the animals at the Aquarium, are part of our preventative medicine program. Aquarium biologists are on the front lines of animal care, making careful observations of each animal at least once a day. “Our staff are experts at evaluating the animals they’re caring for and are able to identify subtle changes in their appearance or behavior,” says Dr. Hadfield. Because all animal care staff have the training and experience to make these evaluations, each animal at the Aquarium has the equivalent of a PCP, or primary care provider, who has the best understanding of their health history and needs.

Routine exams, in many cases, are also part of the Aquarium’s preventative medicine program (yes, even for invertebrates!). “A big part of that is reviewing the animal’s history,” says Dr. Hadfield. “For that, we rely on the knowledge of our animal care specialists and the information in our record systems.” Along with that review, an invertebrate checkup might involve a physical exam, fluid collection or ultrasound, depending on the animal’s needs. Sea urchins need their teeth checked, too!*

*Surprise—sea urchins have teeth! They’re arranged in circle at the bottom of the urchin’s body.

All for one, one for all

When doing health checks, it’s important to consider all the animals in a habitat. “If an animal isn’t eating well,” notes Dr. Hadfield, “It could be normal for that time of year or life stage, but it could also be because there’s something wrong with that animal, the other animals around it, or the world it’s living in.” In those cases, animals that show symptoms first can become “canaries in the coalmine” for issues that might affect neighboring animals. Closely monitoring individual animals can keep smaller problems from spreading and becoming bigger.

Providing the very best care and quality of life for all the animals entrusted to us is a vital part of our mission, Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. Learn more about invertebrates at the Aquarium on our website or, better yet, plan a visit with us soon!

Expert animal care at every age

Posted on March 26, 2024April 11, 2024 by Emma Leiser

This story is part of our series, The Doctor Is In—highlighting our veterinary team’s expertise in service of animal wellbeing.

Our highest priority is providing the best possible lives for the animals in our care—nearly 18,000 fish, invertebrates, birds and mammals with the opening of the Ocean Pavilion. At the forefront of this work are our veterinary, water quality and animal care teams, whose members monitor the health of the animals every day.

Director of Animal Health Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, MA VetMB MRCVS DiplAZCM DiplECZM, is the veterinarian in charge: performing routine observations, interpreting records with animal care staff, providing treatments for animals when needed, and undertaking physical examinations routinely and when concerns arise.

Not surprisingly, some of those issues of concern are related to aging. Geriatric* medicine has become a focus for animal care specialists at zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)—including yours truly—for the best possible reason: as we continue to learn and share information, animals are living longer and longer lives.

*The term “geriatric” refers to older individuals, whether human or another kind of animal. Just as elderly humans require specialized medical care, other elderly animals do as well.

Caring for aging animals at the Seattle Aquarium

Here at the Aquarium, we have a number of geriatric animals in our care. For instance, Barney the harbor seal turned 38 in 2023, reaching a biological age that’s about the equivalent of a 100-year-old human!

And, at age 22, Adaa the sea otter was the oldest sea otter living at an AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium in the U.S. at the time of his passing in 2022. He was also the oldest male sea otter on record in the AZA studbook.*

*What’s a studbook? It’s a document that keeps track of information such as age, significant events like births or deaths, parentage and taxonomy (or the science of classifying and naming organisms). Staff at zoos and aquariums like the Seattle Aquarium work with the AZA to maintain regional studbooks for a wide variety of species. This demographic history is an invaluable tool to help guide conservation projects.

Aging is a complex process that refers to changes in all the systems and functions of an animal’s body; however, aging develops at different rates in different species. Some species of Pacific salmon, for example, have a very brief life (chronologically), dying soon after a single spawning event when they are a few years old. Spotted lagoon jellies also have shorter life spans—just three to four months. Rockfish, on the other hand, may live for over a hundred years!

Evolving care over time

The goal of geriatric care is to maintain the best possible quality of life for the individual animal during a time when they would normally be vulnerable to predation or unable to source food for themselves in the wild. Geriatric care at AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, like ours, is respectful to each individual animal—for their life and its intrinsic value.

What that care involves differs by species and by individual. Our animal care staff work hard to create and maintain environments for aging animals that are safe and easy to use. This can be challenging for the variety of species living together in our larger habitats, such as the Window on Washington Waters and Underwater Dome. In those instances, Aquarium aquarists use their understanding of animal behavior and feeding preferences to provide the best environment possible.

How does care evolve over time for marine mammals at the Aquarium? As these species begin to reach—and exceed—their chronological life expectancy in the wild, animal care staff may begin to adjust how they work with them. For instance, as mammals age, their risk of contracting several age-related eye diseases (such as cataracts and macular degeneration) increases, just as it does in aging humans. If visual acuity (or keenness of perception) is reduced, the Aquarium’s animal care specialists introduce more verbal and tactile cues, such as gently brushing past their whiskers. Arthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) is also common in all mammals as they age. Just as it does for humans, management may include anti-inflammatories, joint supplements, diet modifications and adapting the environment to meet the mobility needs of the individual.

Providing the very best care and quality of life for the animals entrusted to us—at all stages of their lives—is a vital part of our mission, Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. Learn more about animals at the Aquarium on our website or, better yet, plan a visit with us soon!

Watch our care team welcome a critically endangered bowmouth guitarfish in need of a safe home

Posted on February 26, 2024February 23, 2024 by Emma Leiser

It’s difficult to describe a bowmouth guitarfish. It’s even harder to see one in the wild.

The bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostomus) has been in its current form for millions of years—and it shows. These prehistoric-looking, blueish-grey fish appear to be part ray, part shark and even part dinosaur. They sport gills on their undersides, a telltale sign that they are, in fact, rays.

Elusive and endangered

Though they live close to shore, sightings are rare. The bowmouth guitarfish is classified as “Critically Endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species®, meaning they have an extremely high risk of extinction.

Earlier this year, the Seattle Aquarium had an unexpected opportunity to provide a safe home to a bowmouth guitarfish pup. And next summer, visitors to the Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion will have the chance to be part of her surprising story.

And then there were nine!

The pup’s mother was caught in a commercial fishing set net off the east coast of Taiwan. What happened next surprised everyone: while in a holding pool at the fishing center, the mother gave birth to nine live pups.

Our conservation partner in Taiwan, Fred Fan of Fred Fan Aquatics, quickly diverted the animals to a safe place. He then contacted the Seattle Aquarium to work on finding them a long-term home. There are no marine-protected areas where the mother was caught, and fishing for bowmouth guitarfish is legal throughout many regions of Asia. As a result, releasing the mother and pups would have put them at risk of getting caught in another net.

Pups provide hope

The existence of nine bowmouth guitarfish pups in one place felt both miraculous and daunting.

Fan and the Seattle Aquarium contacted additional conservation partners in the region and North America, knowing that accredited aquariums have animal care and species recovery expertise.

Late one night in January 2023, the pups—donated by Fan—arrived from Taiwan to the Seattle Aquarium’s offsite Animal Care Center. There, eight pups would quarantine and receive care for several weeks before moving to teams at the Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium and Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment. And one female pup would remain in Seattle.

No time to waste

Globally, around 400 species of elasmobranchs—sharks and rays—are threatened, largely due to overfishing. In fact, an estimated 100 million individual sharks are killed by people every year. Fishing records for bowmouth guitarfish suggest we’ve lost more than 80 percent of the species in recent years.

Meanwhile, accredited aquariums have been caring for bowmouth guitarfish since 2005. In 2014, a bowmouth guitarfish pup was born in an aquarium for the first time.

We’re still learning about these solitary, elusive fish. We know that they live in relatively shallow, coastal waters, where they stay close to sandy bottoms. They like to crunch on the crustaceans and mollusks they find on the ocean floor. (The bowmouth guitarfish who will live at the Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion eats restaurant-quality, sustainably sourced lobster, shrimp and bony fish.)

Though bowmouth guitarfish are rare, they are also wide-ranging. They’re found in coastal areas throughout the Indo-West Pacific, including from South Africa north to the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, north to Japan and south to Australia. This range provides the chance for many communities and people to be part of the effort to restore their numbers.

Sharing knowledge is key

In November 2023, Fred Fan, aquariums from across the world, academic partners and conservation leaders met at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago to discuss the role aquariums can play in preventing bowmouth guitarfish from going extinct, as well as the structure and development of programs to aid in their recovery.

Restoring wild populations requires trust, partnership, expertise, genetic diversity of the species and time—the least available resource a critically endangered species has. Even so, there’s hope and a highly committed team of marine scientists, researchers and care experts working on these plans.

Beginning next summer, when you visit the Ocean Pavilion, you’ll meet the bowmouth guitarfish in our care and learn how you can join efforts to advocate for the survival of this ancient, fascinating species.

“Like human nurses—but in the veterinary field:” All about vet techs at the Seattle Aquarium

Posted on February 23, 2024April 11, 2024 by Emma Leiser

This story is part of our series, The Doctor Is In—highlighting our veterinary team’s expertise in service of animal wellbeing.

Veterinary technicians—or vet techs—are an integral part of the veterinary care team here at the Seattle Aquarium. But what does it mean to be a vet tech, and what kinds of education and experience are needed to work as a vet tech in an aquarium setting? Lindy McMorran, BS LVT Cert AqVN /T, and Erika Russ Paz, BS LVT, recently sat down with us to share some details.

First things first: What's a veterinary technician?

“It’s like a human nurse—but in the veterinary field,” explains Lindy. Similar to a nurse in a clinic or hospital, Lindy and Erika might spend a typical day at the Aquarium running anesthesia during a procedure, dispensing medications, taking x-rays, maintaining supplies and equipment for the Aquarium’s Veterinary Care Center and scheduling exams. They may also be found working with animal care staff to train behaviors that help with animal care, such as the ability to give an injection or take a blood sample with an animal’s cooperation.

Both women have Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees—Lindy’s in marine biology; Erika’s in marine science with a minor in biology—and licensed veterinary technician (LVT) credentials. Earning the credential requires about two years of full-time studies, followed by a national exam and state test. (Details, including alternative criteria, can be found on the Washington State Department of Health website.)

Most vet techs go on to work at the kind of veterinary clinic where you might take a pet dog or cat, so the curriculum focuses on their care. Although much of the core training applies to animals of all kinds, “there was no training that was specific to aquatic animals,” notes Lindy.

For vet techs in aquarium settings, that’s where hands-on experience, internships and/or additional courses—not to mention a passion for the marine environment—come in.

Says Erika, describing highlights of the path that brought to her to the Aquarium, “I worked as an educator and marine science camp counselor at an aquarium during college. I also interned at an aquarium and as a wildlife rehabilitator. And, after graduation, I spent time as an observer in Alaska, collecting data to help manage our fisheries. I worked with PAWS, caring for a wide variety of species from the Pacific Northwest, as well. ”

That’s in addition to seven years in a general veterinary practice before joining our team early this year. “A background in marine science and biology, along with a passion for the ocean and care of animals, ultimately led me to the Aquarium,” Erika comments.

Specialties: Not just for human nurses

“Human nurses can have specialties, like oncology or pediatrics. Veterinarians can have those same kinds of specialties,” Lindy says. “But for vet techs, specialties are less common.”

Like Erika, Lindy augmented her schooling by working with marine animals—for example, as a volunteer for SR3, a local organization focused on marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, and here at the Seattle Aquarium. She’s been focused on aquatic animals since 2007: as an intern, a lab assistant, an instructor and more.

Through her years of specific experience with aquatic animals, Lindy recently earned a new credential, Certified Aquatic Veterinary Technician, from the World Aquarium Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA). She’s just the second person in the continental United States to achieve the certification, which became available from WAVMA at the beginning of 2023, joining select others from around the world.

Put simply, the new credential recognizes Lindy’s expertise with marine animals. “It’s one of the only ways a vet tech in the aquarium field can prove their experience,” she notes. “For instance, there is no board certification specialty for vet techs in aquatic medicine, but there is one for zoos.”

Broad experience + passion = a well-rounded, expert team

“Growing our veterinary team and seeking people with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise helps ensure that each animal receives the individual care they need, which benefits their wellbeing,” comments Lindy.

That adaptability, always important, is even more so as the Aquarium expands with the opening of the new Ocean Pavilion this summer. Interested in learning more about veterinary care at the Seattle Aquarium? Check out our web story devoted to the full team.