Today is Australia Day, also known as Anniversary Day and Foundation Day, the official national day of Australia. 
Celebrated annually on 26 January, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, the unfurling of the British flag at Sydney Cove and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia. This day of celebration is very similar to America’s 4th of July. The National Aquarium celebrated with visitors in the Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes exhibit this past weekend. Let’s take a look at a very special Australian animal that is now featured in the exhibit:
Irwin’s Turtle:
Irwin’s turtle was discovered by Steve Irwin and his father Bob on a camping trip in 1990. Because the turtle was new to them, it was photographed and sent to a turtle expert. After Steve Irwin’s death, the expert, John Cann, determined that the animal was indeed a new species. It was subsequently named Elseya irwini, with the common name, Irwin’s turtle. Ecologist Dr. Ivan Lawler suggests that the species, known only from the Burdekin and Bowen rivers in Australia, may be endangered or close to it. Lawler’s “best guess” is that there are only 4,000 to 5,000 in the wild.
Obama was sworn in as our nation’s 44th President. With nearly all of the 225 seats were filled, the room was packed with excitement! Sounds of clapper and cheers spread through the theater as Barack Obama and Joe Biden were sworn into office.
Baltimore) and the Tennessee Aquarium. Charles Myers, the National Aquarium’s director of visitor services and Gene Dwyer, the Tennessee Aquarium’s visitor services manager have made a friendly bet.
