Airtran Airways

You might say love is in the air, or perhaps in the water, at the Georgia Aquarium. While many of our guests will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a nice romantic trip to the Aquarium, many of our animals have been creating other reasons to celebrate.

Last November, a female zebra shark laid about a dozen viable egg cases around the Ocean Voyager exhibit. The viable embryos are expected to hatch early this year. When they do the newborn sharks will be kept under close observation in a separate area to grow and mature before being placed on exhibit in aquariums throughout the country.

Two of the Georgia Aquarium’s bonnethead sharks found in the Georgia Explorer touch pool made news in September when they birthed pups on display. Since then some of the young sharks have grown to nearly 20 inches long and appear to be progressing well. Aquarium biologists hope the pups will make their public debut before the end of the year.

Who says chivalry is dead? In the Cold Water Quest gallery, you will find the ultimate gentlemen. Some of our MALE pipefish are pregnant! Amongst pipefish, the male carries the fertilized egg until birth.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Georgia Aquarium Promotes Coral Reef Conservation in the South Pacific
The Georgia Aquarium recently partnered with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to save the Arnavon Community Marine Conservation Area (ACMCA) in the Solomon Islands from over fishing. The Solomon Island villagers have become the guardians of these islands, requesting governmental assistance to restore them, protect them from poachers and monitor the recovery of corals, giant clams and native fishes. In only a few years the recovery of depleted fish and invertebrate species has been dramatic. The Georgia Aquarium has committed itself to fund the ACMCA program for three years. Visitors to the Georgia Aquarium can expect to see more exhibits and information about this project in the Tropical Diver gallery later this year.

Georgia Aquarium’s Big Screen Debut
Tyler Perry’s newest movie, Daddy’s Little Girls, hits the big screen on February 14th. Check out the trailer and you’ll see scenes shot from the Aquarium’s amazing underwater tunnel and enormous viewing window. The Georgia Aquarium, along with the whale sharks, giant groupers and 50,000+ other fish in the Ocean Voyager gallery are honored to be featured in the movie. For more information and a link to the trailer, click here.

Check out our new Animal Guide
The new animal guide feature, available on the Georgia Aquarium home page, provides fun pictures and facts about many of the animals that reside at the Georgia Aquarium. Fact sheets are available for animals in Cold Water Quest, Georgia Explorer, Ocean Voyager, River Scout and Tropical Diver. Continue to check back as new animals are added each month! Click here to view the animal guides now.

South Africa 2007
Join Georgia Aquarium President and Executive Director Jeffery Swanagan for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure along the coast of South Africa. Enjoy scenic views and up-close encounters with wildlife as your personal tour makes its way through South Africa's Garden Route and concludes with a wildlife safari. For more information, click here. Hurry, space is limited!

New Audio Tours Available
The Georgia Aquarium audio tour has now been updated to include all five galleries. You can download this feature for free onto your personal iPod or MP3 player from the Georgia Aquarium home page. Simply click here, and then click the Audio Tour link at the bottom of the page to check out all the new additions.

When’s the best time to visit you ask? NOW!
With school in session, now is a great time to visit the Georgia Aquarium. Visit during the week for a fantastic experience. At these times you will be given the opportunity to walk leisurely around the Aquarium and enjoy the experience to the highest degree! Sunday is the better weekend day, and on Saturdays, we suggest coming shortly after 10 a.m. or late in the day for the best experience. Remember to save time at the Aquarium by making advanced reservations for your guests, especially during peak days such as Saturdays. Click here for more visitor tips.