Children ages 3-5 will enjoy these one-hour sessions on a wide variety of aquatic
and marine topics. Costumes, crafts activities, and live animals will focus on a different animal or subject for each class. Cost $6; Limited to 10. For more information on time and dates, call 252-473-3494 ext. 232.
Jay Barnes, Director of the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores for the past 20 years, will leave the post at the end of October. Barnes announced his plans to retire from the position to Aquarium staff July 7.
He said he had thoroughly enjoyed his tenure but felt it was a good time for him to pursue other interests and for the Aquarium to experience new leadership. Barnes has worked for the North Carolina Aquariums Division for almost 30 years. He praised employees for accomplishing the Aquarium’s mission — inspiring appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments. (more…)
Venture behind the scenes of the Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit with an educator to observe one of the weekly shark feedings. Get an up-close look as all of the fishes and sharks are fed. Learn more about s
hark facts and myths in an Aquarium classroom while enjoying a light snack. Due to safety issues, visitors aren’t allowed to feed the sharks. Closed-toe shoes are required. Cost $15; limit 10; Ages 8 and up. Preregistration is required by calling 252-473-3494 ext. 232 or 1-866-332-3475 ext. 232.
The North Carolina Aquariums 2008 Underwater Photo Contest brought in a wave of stunning deep-sea scenery, featuring creatures ranging in size from tiny octocorals to giant sunfish.
The Aquariums sponsor the annual competition for amateur and non-professional photographers to highlight the state’s diverse aquatic life. Images from the waters off North Carolina’s coast or within the state’s freshwater system can be entered in two categories: Underwater Open for wide-angle scenes or Underwater Close-ups. Photos taken at the three North Carolina Aquariums - at Fort Fisher, at Pine Knoll Shores and on Roanoke Island - can compete in the Aquatic Life in the Aquariums category.
Late-night bottle-feedings were recently on the list of daily chores at the Aquarium.
The new job of mixing formula came when the Aquarium rescued an orphaned baby North American river otter, whose mother had been accidentally killed by a car.
Aquarium staff members quickly took on the role of playing parent to the otter kit they named Eno. Aquarists bottle-fed the youngster every few hours around the clock until he could trade formula for fish and other solid food. Additionally, they had to teach him to swim and hunt.
Now four months old, he’s strong, healthy and – characteristic of river otters – energetic and playful.
