Exploring sharks, after dark

From Andy Dehart, Director of Biological Programs at the National Aquarium, DC

Shark Week 2009 kicks off this Sunday at 9:00 EST on Discovery Channel! I am wrapping up a frenzied media tour that has enabled me to talk to  television networks, radio stations, and newspapers around the country about how important sharks are to our oceans and the threats they face, as well as the Shark Conservation Act of 2009. Tonight we will be talking with Larry King live in Los Angeles to dispel many of the myths surrounding sharks and shark attacks. Throughout the next week I will be on the CBS Early show which will be covering Shark Week every day.

One of the questions I am often asked throughout these interviews is, what is my favorite experience with sharks. In all honesty, every encounter I have had with sharks has been incredibly special to me. I have had the good fortune to be able to dive with over 40 species of sharks in my career and each experience has been unique. My hope is that all of these species will be around for future generations to enjoy as I have.

Bayley the dolphin turns 1!

The National Aquarium is celebrating a birthday! Bayley, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin born at the Aquarium on July 27, 2008, is one year old today. The public is invited to share in her birthday celebration during the Aquarium’s first ever public enrichment building day on Saturday, August 8. Click here for details!

Bayley is one of 10 dolphins living at the National Aquarium. At one year old, she is still nursing from her mother but also eating about six pounds of fish a day. She spends most of her time with her mother, Chesapeake, and other adult female dolphins, but also plays with 2 year old Foster who shares the pools with her. She is very active and eager to learn and play, and is already participating in shows!

In lieu of presents, you can TXT the word ACT to 20222 to give Bayley a gift! Your $5 donation will support the care and feeding of Bayley and her 16,000 aquatic friends at the Aquarium.

Environmental enrichment is an important part of the care animals recieve at the National Aquarium. While these items may be seen as just toys, the animal care staff is actually encouraging natural behaviors and giving the animals something new to investigate in their environment. Animals engage in lots of behaviors and enrichment gives them the opportunity to forage, hide, explore and play.  Play helps many animals, including dolphins, develop behavioral skills they need throughout life. 

By providing simple, everyday items, such as paper towel rolls for birds or basketballs for dolphins, the animals can practice a wide range of behaviors. Interested in making enrichment items for your animals at home? Click here to learn more.

S.O.S., save our sharks

From Andy Dehart, Director of Biological Programs in Washington, DC

This weekend is Shark Weekend at the National Aquarium’s DC venue. We are celebrating sharks and teaching visitors more about these fascinating animals. In my last blog post, I mentioned that some species of sharks have decreased by nearly 90% in just the last 20 years. Before I explain why that is happening, let me ask a question: What do the following have in common:  driving to the beach, dogs, lightning, pigs, and falling coconuts? 

Well, all of these kill more people per year than sharks.  Last year there were only 59 unprovoked shark attacks with only 4 fatalities worldwide.  This is a decrease from the 71 the year before and a continued drop from the year 2000 despite continued population growth and beach attendance.  Clearly we have very little to fear from sharks.

Sharks, however, can not say the same about their risk from mankind.  Each day roughly 250,000 sharks are killed through targeted fisheries and as bycatch.  Many sharks are slow to mature and have very few young compared to other fish.  Some species, such as the sandbar shark which we have in our Open Ocean exhibit at our Baltimore venue, can take up to 10-14 years to mature and only have 1-14 young every other year after a 9 month gestation.  To top it off, many of the habitats these sharks are using as nursery areas are becoming overdeveloped leading to habitat loss and polluted waters.

Ilya the manatee still visiting the bay

The National Aquarium has confirmed another sighting of manatee “Ilya”, reported yesterday in Perryville by Town Commissioner Gary Tennis. The animals appears to be moving freely between the top of the Bay and the Susquehanna River.

Take a look at our video of “Ilya”! The footage was taken by the Harve de Grace police department when he was first spotted on Saturday.  

The Aquarium and the Coast Guard will continue to keep tabs on Ilya to ensure his safety and monitor his movements. The Aquarium reminds local boaters and others at play around the Bay to be aware that the animal is still in the vicinity, and to use common sense practices to keep themselves and the manatee safe. Sightings should be reported to the Maryland Natural Resources Police Stranding Hotline: 1-800-628-9944.

Special visitor to the bay

The Bay has a special summer visitor! The National Aquarium’s marine animal rescue team has confirmed a manatee sighting in Havre de Grace, MD over the weekend. The Aquarium and the Coast Guard are keeping tabs on the animal to ensure its safety and monitor its movements.

     

Aquarium staff members reached out federal officials at the U.S. Geological Society in Florida to possibly identify the animal and its usual locale in southern waters. Because of unique scarring on its tail, the manatee was successfully identified as “Ilya” M1062 (‘eel – YAH’), a male who was first photo-documented in 1994 when he was still a dependent calf.  ALL of his known history, through 2006, has been from sites in the Miami area.

We bring this to your attention to share important information when it comes to public interaction with marine animals. Local boaters and others around this part of the Bay need to be aware that the animal is in the vicinity and use common sense practices to keep themselves and the manatee safe:

• Boaters to these areas should slow down when traveling by boat in inlets and around shallows to avoid striking the manatee, and observe no wake signs.
• No one should approach the manatee. It is a violation of Federal law to touch, disturb or interact with marine mammals. This includes feeding them – no feeding!
• Keep at least a 50 foot distance. This is for human safety as well – manatees are not aggressive but they are wild animals, not tamed or conditioned to human interaction.