A Letter from our Executive Director

Visitor Tips & Updates

Members, thank you for your support! In an effort to ensure efficiency of your next visit and future visits, visiting annual pass holders who have not taken their photo will be required to have their photo taken upon entry into the Aquarium. Annual pass holders should visit the Annual Pass Fulfillment area to have their photo taken and receive an annual pass card before entry. Please arrive prepared to have your permanent pass made with a photo ID and order confirmation number.

Please remember that annual passes and annual pass reservations are valid only for the person named on the annual pass. Non-annual pass holders need to purchase a ticket for Aquarium admission.

Our guests have told us that their visit is much more enjoyable when they leave their large strollers at home. We encourage you to bring a smaller or umbrella stroller. Complimentary stroller parking is available at our Information Desk/Coat Check, and additional stroller corrals are available outside our galleries. Strollers are not permitted in the 4D Theater.

We open every day this summer at 8 am and are open late on holidays. Please visit our web site for a complete listing of our extended hours.

Don’t Miss Out on Summer Camp H₂O

Now that the school year has ended, the Georgia Aquarium education team is happy to announce our summer day camps from June 5 through August 11, 2006. Camp H₂O is a week-long day camp experience for children between the ages of 4 and 14 years old.

This program will provide campers with a unique experience at the Georgia Aquarium that will involve animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, opportunities to meet the husbandry team and much more. The program will have two alternating weekly themes, Conservation Crusaders and Aquanaut Adventurers, so participants can enjoy one or two week sessions. This is a great opportunity for kids to explore the aquatic realm at the world's largest Aquarium.

Camp Registration will be available online only.
Spots are still available. Click here to learn more and register.

The Big Catch

Announcing a home run deal that’s bound to make waves.

This summer, two of Atlanta’s hottest attractions have partnered together to bring you “The Big Catch.” Starting June 20^th, you can receive discounted rates to both the Atlanta Braves, and Georgia Aquarium. For only $35.75, you can soak in the sun at Turner Field with the 14-time division champion Atlanta Braves and then cool off at the world’s largest aquarium with the most amazing collection of aquatic life known to man.

To get in on “The Big Catch,” simply go online to Braves.com and purchase the discounted ticket package. The daily supply is limited, so be sure to take advantage of this deal as early as possible.

The Atlanta Braves and Georgia Aquarium - together they’re this summer’s Big Catch!

What Brown Did For Us!

With the arrival of our beautiful, new female whale sharks, Alice and Trixie, Georgia Aquarium continues making history.  Early in the morning of June 4th a specially configured UPS B-747 freighter delivered Alice and Trixie to Atlanta and their new home in the Ocean Voyager exhibit built by The Home Depot, making Georgia Aquarium the only facility in the world to house four whale sharks.

The two girls were flown more than 8,000 miles from Hualien, Taiwan. Now swimming with Ralph and Norton in the 6.2 million gallon tank are Alice who is 13 feet 10 inches long, and Trixie, who is 15 feet 5 inches long. The two girls are thriving and responding extremely well to the target feeding that the Georgia Aquarium husbandry staff has taught them. We are ecstatic to have these two extraordinary additions to our Georgia Aquarium community. We can not say thank you enough to UPS for helping make this happen. Please click here to view photos and video from the transport.

WXIA presents: Two + Two = WOW!

This July 4^th, take a trip that will leave you saying WOW!  11Alive presents Two Plus Two Equals WOW, an unprecedented special in high definition!  Come along as 11Alive captures the journey of the Georgia Aquarium’s two new whale sharks – from Taiwan to Atlanta!  Tune in to 11Alive July 4th at 8 pm.

Happy Anniversary Ralph & Norton!

Alice and Trixie arrived just in time to make the perfect gift for Ralph and Norton’s one-year anniversary!  This month our two male whale sharks celebrate their one-year anniversary at the Georgia Aquarium.   When Ralph and Norton arrived at the Aquarium last June, they were 15 feet 6 inches and 13 feet long, respectively.  When measured on their one-year birthday, Ralph and Norton boasted a growth to about 18 to 20 feet in length.  Their growth spurt is just one example of how well our two males have acclimated the past year to their Ocean Voyager habitat, built by The Home Depot. If you haven’t come to wish Ralph and Norton a happy birthday, we hope to see you soon.

Making Waves in Whale Shark Research

Georgia Aquarium is not only a destination for seeing incredible animals, it is also a state-of-the-art education and research facility. Georgia Aquarium Executive Director Jeff Swanagan has always said that the Aquarium is committed to advancing the understanding of aquatic species through research. One of the exciting aspects of housing both male and female whale sharks is the potential to learn more about these exotic and mysterious creatures. “Having male whale sharks cohabitate with female whale sharks will give the Aquarium a better understanding of how this species interacts, including breeding,” says Swanagan.

Currently, Georgia Aquarium is teaming with Mote Marine Laboratory to conduct research in Cancun, Mexico, to study the eating habits and population demographics of whale sharks with the use of conventional tags, as well as newer satellite tags. In collaboration with the University of Georgia, Georgia Aquarium is also conducting bacterial succession in aquariums and its effects on the fish. The veterinarian clinic is leading the way in ground-breaking research. This facility is equipped to analyze animal nutrition, develop innovative treatments, study blood chemistry and even perform surgery should the need arise. Future endeavors include whale shark sensory biology, whale shark tagging and conservation in Taiwan and expansion of the aquaculture program.

Beluga Update

Gasper, the beluga whale rescued from a Mexico City amusement park, is showing some improvement in his behavior and appetite. He is responding well to his trainers, who work with him daily. Husbandry and veterinary staff say they are optimistic regarding his recent progress but caution he is still dealing with osteomyelitis, skin lesions and an unknown underlying illness.

Gasper’s current treatment therapies require close monitoring and therefore he will continue to be managed in beluga whale exhibit’s secondary pool until his condition stabilizes.

Creature Feature: Asian Small-Clawed Otters (Aonyx cinerea)

Georgia Aquarium is home to five Asian small-clawed otters, all female and all siblings, living in River Scout presented by Southern Company. Also called the clawless otter and the oriental small-clawed otter, the small-clawed otter is the smallest otter in the world. This particular type of otter is normally found in Southern India and China, as well as the Philippines. However, our small-clawed otters came to us from a zoo in Paris, France.

In the wild, these animals have been observed sliding on mud banks and chasing each other through the water. These types of “play” behaviors help to reinforce social bonds. It is also a way for young otters to practice their hunting techniques. In the Aquarium’s exhibit, the otters act similar to how they would in the wild. Jeff Krenner, assistant manager of husbandry, said one of the animals’ favorite toys are large, long pieces of heavy felt that are actually used in automatic car washes. “It is a challenge to find treats and toys they will not destroy because they chew on everything,” Krenner said. Toys and food are also frozen inside large blocks of ice which the animals bite at and push around in the water until they retrieve the treat inside. Mussels and similar treats, as well as rubber and plastic toys, are also hidden around the habitat to encourage and stimulate the animals.

At Georgia Aquarium, the small-clawed otters are fed twice daily, their diet usually consisting of silverside fish, capeland and herring. When being fed, five biologists utilize color-coded targets and whistles that not only keep feeding time orderly, but also train the otters. When the animals are brought out of the exhibit for feeding, the targets are held up for the animal to touch its nose to. The whistle signals that the animal has done a good job. Krenner said the otters are also being taught with the target to spot feed in the exhibit separately, meaning they feed in a particular spot in the exhibit, and will eventually be brought together. “This target training makes it easier to do medical examinations and behavioral analysis,” Krenner said. This is because the animals are trained to perform certain tasks, such as going to a specific area, holding still and opening their mouths for inspection. The targets are also used to train the animals to sit still on a scale. In between feedings, the otters receive snacks like moistened high-quality cat food to enrich their diets.

The best time to catch these mischievous animals in action is in the late afternoon after they’ve eaten and when you can get a great view of the exhibit.

Join Our Team: Volunteer

Do you have a passion for education, conservation, aquatic life and having fun? Georgia Aquarium Volunteer Program is looking for new volunteers to help us meet our vision of creating "The World’s Most Engaging Aquarium Experience!" Georgia Aquarium provides numerous opportunities and training for volunteers in a variety of departments and offers many benefits to volunteers.  Help create an experience that will entertain, educate and give back to the Atlanta community in an aquatic environment with incredible people from all over the city.  If you are interested in volunteering, please visit the Volunteer section of our web site to fill out an online application and learn more about the opportunities and benefits of volunteering at the Georgia Aquarium.

Calling All Wine Lovers: Save the Date for Aqua Vino

Mark your calendars for Georgia Aquarium’s inaugural Aqua Vino event, an exclusive, fine wine tasting and art event, scheduled for October 21^st. While enjoying the views in Georgia Aquarium’s Ocean’s Ballroom, you will taste an array of exotic wines and also contribute to the Aquarium’s Conservation program. Look for more details in our next e-newsletter and on our web site.

Fish & Chips – A Hole in One!

Thank you to all of our sponsors and participants for making our inaugural Fish & Chips Golf Tournament a huge success. We raised $159,000 for the Endowment. This fund will help support and grow Aquarium programs including education, veterinary care and research projects as well as new animal acquisitions and exhibits.  

A Big Thank You to the following sponsors for their support and commitment to ensuring the work of Georgia Aquarium will be safeguarded for future generations.

Ocean’s Day

Georgia Aquarium celebrated World Ocean Day on June 8^th in partnership with “The Ocean Project.” This global celebration of the ocean provides conservation organizations with the opportunity to join together in celebrating the beauty and diversity of the world’s oceans. The world’s ocean covers 70% of our planet, therefore everyone is connected and affected by the oceans. On World Ocean Day, the Georgia Aquarium provided opportunities for our guests to learn about four main challenges facing our planet today and what actions we can take. The four major challenges featured were global warming, nuisance species, ocean pollution and sustainable seafood. To find out more about these issues please visit the Conservation section of our web site.

World Ocean Day was filled with storytelling, brochures and talks at information booths and the kick-off of our sustainable seafood program. The sustainable seafood program helps make consumers aware of how their seafood choices affect the oceans. To help kick off the celebration of our ocean, several staff and volunteers of the Georgia Aquarium, in partnership with “Keep DeKalb Beautiful,” met on June 3^rd to clean the riverbed of a nearby stream. By cleaning up a riverbed, we are bringing attention to rivers and acknowledging that what we place in our rivers ends up in our oceans.

Georgia Aquarium named Official Coastal Learning Center

Georgia Aquarium was named Coastal America’s 19^th Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center on May 25^th at a ceremony attended by representatives from multiple government agencies. The event opened with a musical performance by local children from the Atlanta New Century School. The program included remarks from Executive Director Jeffery Swanagan and benefactor Bernie Marcus.  Officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Commerce and the Environmental Protection Agency all participated in the ceremony. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed, making the designation official. During the ceremony, the Georgia Aquarium was presented with a bronze plaque and a Learning Center Certificate.  “We’re delighted to be included in the Coastal America partnership,” said Bernie Marcus.  “The designation will enable us to expand our conservation message to far more people through participation in the Learning Center network.”

School’s Out: Education Wrap-Up

School’s out and our hard-working education team is happy to report that 36,056 kids and 1,917 teachers took part in Georgia Aquarium’s first education program. Students represented eight states and four age ranges, from pre-kindergarten to 12^th grade. Georgia contributed 34,562 students, representing 53 counties. Aquatic Adventures saw the greatest attendance with 13,748 participants.

Six Months and Counting

Check out some of the ground-breaking marks Georgia Aquarium has made in just six short months.

Georgia Aquarium’s Unparalleled Attendance
One-millionth guest in just 98 days
Current attendance is well over two million visitors with guests representing each of the 50 United States and a multitude of countries

Georgia Aquarium’s Positive Impact on the Georgia Community and Aquatic Research
The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau partly attributes the boom in Atlanta tourism to the national and international media exposure Atlanta received with the opening of the Georgia Aquarium.
Georgia Aquarium’s partnership with the University of Georgia makes the Aquarium’s Veterinary program the world’s leading aquatic animal hospital.

Georgia Aquarium’s Galleries: New Additions and Projects

Ocean Voyager built by The Home Depot:

• Eight napoleon wrasses
• Eight potato cods
• Schools of grey snappers, pompano and grunts
• Two female whale sharks

Tropical Diver presented by AirTran Airways:

• Pacific sea nettles
• Behind-the-scenes cultivation of baby squid and cuttlefish

Cold Water Quest presented by Georgia-Pacific:

• Three sea lions awaiting new homes after being abandoned from Hurricane Katrina
• The creation of a new Giant Pacific Octopus exhibit for better visibility