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| The Living Planet Aquarium; Our local public aquarium | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 22 2009, 02:54:10 PM (823 Views) | |
| Post #1 Nov 22 2009, 02:54:10 PM | Suzy |
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Big shout out for the Living Planet Aquarium! Guys, I got a job at our local public aquarium! I even got a shirt that says the LPA Staff! They don't actually pay me, which kinda makes it not a real job but it does have some other super sweet compensation! I get to hang out with real marine biologists, a few interns who want to be one, and lots of cute and inquisitive 4 year olds. Plus, I get to go behind the scenes and see the new and upcoming exhibits, and see how they are built. The plumbing to some of these things is incredible! I got to meet the curator last week, Andy Allison. Of course, I asked him about seahorses and the like. They are raising my species, H erectus and using only artemia. I offered some pods to Andy, and he was very receptive to trying them! Good thing I have a few to spare! I mostly hang out with the education staff, and play in the "Biofacts Station", where they have little touch tanks that kids can touch. The smallest kids will touch, and the older elementary school age, but the 3 and 4 years olds usually won't. "They bite!" Even if we tell them pencil urchins, starfish and horse shoe crabs don't have teeth, they still won't! When I am at the Biofacts station, it is very common to hear a kid scream. We have to be sure no one has fallen in, but so far the screams have been some kid getting splashed by a rogue stingray. One animal will literally go up to a kid with his/her face hanging near the water, and flip a fin to splash them! They are really playful, very tame and fun for kids. There are some really fun exhibits opening up in the next few months. But, if you haven't seen what we already have, you need to! http://www.thelivingplanet.com/ |
Seahorse Whisperer
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"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny! | |
 
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| Post #2 Nov 23 2009, 01:09:47 PM | Amie |
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Suzy, I'm so excited that you are volunteering there. What a great opportunity. Hey, if you need more pods to take in, I've got some. |
stormy, stormy nights
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http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/interns.html Tell them Adam sent you. | |
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| Post #3 Nov 24 2009, 08:03:11 AM | Suzy |
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Thanks! That is very kind of you! I might take you up on it! A few tidbits on our fledging public aquarium: Started as preview in 2004. Those who saw it at the downtown mall really need to visit again. It has really grown and changed. It is still small, but outgrowing it's current location soon. As of 2008, 1.7 million people have visited the aquarium! When the LPA first started, there were some skeptics that said a land locked state did not need an aquarium, and it was a struggle to prove that our community would support it. I really wish the former Mayor of Salt Lake could see it now! I hope they can get some ZAP tax money one day. The zoo really has more than their fair share! Do we really want more gorillas when we could have dolphins too? The LPA has the best outreach program in the state. They have an education staff of teachers and others that really show off. Tons of stuff for schools and kids. The Seahorse exhibit will open to the public Dec. 19th! I am sworn to secrecy for details until then, but it is going to be sweet! I really think it will rival all the other exhibits, but I might be a bit biased... For those who haven't visited lately, an interesting little thing they have done: added a school of damsel fishes to the shark tank! I would have thought that would have lasted a few minutes at the most, but they are now sharing this tank peacefully. It looks cool, this school of blue swimming and the sharks swimming right though them! |
Seahorse Whisperer
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"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny! | |
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| Post #4 Nov 24 2009, 06:17:54 PM | Clint |
| I can't figure out why they haven't linked the zoo and the aquarium. It would increase traffic to both, particularly with the season pass holders. |
breeding stock
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| Midvale (435) 213-6215 | |
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| Post #5 Nov 25 2009, 07:37:28 AM | Suzy |
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Yes, and it would help with tourist traffic. But, I think the zoo is already filled to capacity. It seems like they have to tear down something to build any new exhibit. I think the LPA needs a place close to tourist attractions, like the Temple in Salt Lake. From what I heard way back from the past curator, public aquariums tend to get a local person only once or twice a year, so getting tourists keeps the guests coming. They had secured a wonderful spot right off the 4th south HOV exit ramp, behind Pioneer park and on the street going to the Gateway mall. They had a lease on an old paint factory that had been abandoned for years. But, they needed more funding. They approached the city for a bond (a loan) to be placed on the ballot, but the opposition was very loud. One of my friends back then even told me he went to a council meeting to oppose it, and wrote a scathing letter to the editor in the SL Trib. I am still very sad about that, and so are many others. This is such a good thing for the children of our state, many (most?) will never see an ocean or a shark, dolphin or seahorse. We need a Home Depot rich guy to fund us! Speaking of season pass holders, the yearly pass to the LPA is not much more than a one day admission. It is still smaller than it will be, but this location is full of fun stuff! With a year pass, you can take your kids every month to see what is new. A cheap way to entertain wee ones on a cold winter day when they are off track? Plus, you will have many opportunities to share a love of all the worlds wonderful creatures! |
Seahorse Whisperer
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"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny! | |
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| Post #6 Nov 28 2009, 11:16:15 AM | Amie |
| Soooo???... do you get to work with the seahorses at all? |
stormy, stormy nights
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http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/interns.html Tell them Adam sent you. | |
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| Post #7 Nov 28 2009, 05:59:05 PM | Suzy |
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No, not yet, but I get to see the new stuff and it is really cool! I am sworn to secrecy until the opening December 19th (17th for members!). I have talked fry, rotifers and fish geek stuff with the big wigs, though. It is really fun to be able to see the things we can't have in our tanks, like the Giant Pacific Octopus and the Sharks, the big turtles and even the snakes! |
Seahorse Whisperer
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"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny! | |
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| Post #8 Nov 28 2009, 08:20:49 PM | Clint |
| OK fine they can't have the two on the same campus but you could still link the season passes. And throw Tracy aviary in while you are at it. The people that would want a season pass to one would be the same people interested in all three. I know it is a great outing for the kids but if people have a number of kids and plan to buy a season pass they are probably not going to buy all three. But if they could get all three they would use them. The traffic would increase visibility, help a larger portion of people see the value of such things. |
breeding stock
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| Midvale (435) 213-6215 | |
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| Post #9 Nov 29 2009, 08:08:05 AM | Suzy |
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That is true! I will mention it to the Goddess of Marketing! Speaking of the GoM, I want to ask her why they don't drive the Aquavans in the parades in the summer. They would get tons of free advertising, to their target audience, right? |
Seahorse Whisperer
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"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny! | |
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| Post #10 Nov 30 2009, 12:11:01 PM | Jerry |
| I still can't believe ANY saltwater keeper would have stood against getting a better local aquarium. What a jerk!!! |
X SQUAD
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