By Harlee Goldermann, Guest Programs Team Specialist

Have you heard June 8^th is World Ocean Day? World Ocean Day is a United Nations-recognized day to raise awareness, help create policy, and inform the public of the importance of our ocean and what we can do to help protect it!

Did you know that the ocean covers 70% of the planet and contributes 50% of the oxygen we breathe? Our ocean also protects us by absorbing nearly 30% of carbon dioxide created by humans, reducing the impacts of global climate change. The ocean contains most of the earth’s biodiversity, with many of the species found on our coral reefs. Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor but account for 25% of all known ocean life. Unfortunately, many of the species that diversify our ocean and reefs are depleted. Many of these negative impacts are caused directly by humans. Overfishing, plastic pollution, and chemical runoff are hurting the ocean – furthering the importance of protecting our ocean ecosystem. All of this has led many to campaign for a global ocean protection effort. This effort is one of the many reasons why World Ocean Day came to fruition!

World Ocean Day at Georgia Aquarium

We are committed to conservation efforts that not only aim to restore coral reefs that contribute so much to the ocean’s biodiversity but also fish populations and other animals to help restore order to our ocean ecosystems. One of the ways we are doing that is by partnering with conservation institutions around the globe. Georgia Aquarium is a founding partner of the StAR Project. This project brings facilities around the world together to help replenish zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) populations in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. These waters have been protected since 2004. However, zebra sharks have been functionally extinct from this area for so long that the young people of that region no longer have a common name for them in their language. Georgia Aquarium is one of 76 partners and 15 countries involved with the project. Read more about this project at https://www.reshark.org/project-star

Wold Ocean Day Over the Years

World Ocean Day was first proposed in 1992 by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. In December of 2008, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized and established June 8^th as World Ocean Day. Over the years, thousands have participated in global World Ocean Day events and pledged to help with their latest campaign #30×30. This is an effort to protect 30% of our planet by 2030. Currently, less than 17% of our lands and only 8% of our oceans worldwide are protected. Protecting our ocean is vital as we have reached a point where we are taking more than what can be replenished.

Help our ocean this World Ocean Day, too! Come visit us at Georgia Aquarium on June 8^th for World Ocean Day. Enjoy festivities for the whole family and learn more. The proceeds from your visit will go towards helping us care for our animals and our conservation efforts protecting animals around the world, including our work with the StAR Project. We cannot wait to see you there! For more information and to purchase tickets, visit georgiaaquarium.org.

Published on May 24, 2023.

Whisper, a 20-year-old beluga whale at Georgia Aquarium gave birth to a calf at 3:17 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2020. Whisper’s calf weighed 174 pounds at birth and is five feet four inches in length.

“We are so proud of Whisper and overjoyed to welcome her calf to our Georgia Aquarium family,” said Dennis Christen, senior director of zoological operations, mammals and birds at Georgia Aquarium. “We will be there right alongside the calf as it continues to grow and learn from Whisper.”

Whisper had a long labor, but with assistance from the Aquarium’s animal care and health teams she delivered her calf. Both Whisper and her calf are getting much needed rest and time to bond.

Georgia Aquarium’s animal care and health teams are monitoring Whisper and her calf around-the-clock. There are still milestones ahead for the little whale over the next several weeks, which are crucial for its development and the bonding experience.

Dr. Tonya Clauss, vice president of animal and environmental health at Georgia Aquarium stated, “Our animal health team is continuing to monitor Whisper and her calf. The coming weeks are important for the calf’s development and there are milestones to meet so we’re giving mom and calf all the support and time they need.”

Georgia Aquarium’s other beluga whales, Qinu, Maple, Nunavik, and Imaq are all doing well. They are currently in a separate area of the exhibit and will be introduced to Whisper and her calf when it’s appropriate.

“This birth is important not only for Georgia Aquarium, but all accredited zoological facilities. Our hope is to sustain the beluga whale population in North America so future generations can learn about them,” said Eric Gaglione, vice president of zoological operations at Georgia Aquarium. “Throughout Whisper’s pregnancy we tracked important data about beluga whale gestation that could hopefully make informed conservation decisions about belugas in the wild and their offspring.”

The full birth story, behind-the-scenes moments, and some surprise details will air in an Animal Planet special on May 30, 2020 at 10 p.m. EST. Stay tuned to Georgia Aquarium’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates as the calf continues to grow.

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High-Res B-Roll, click here.
Photo and video credit: Georgia Aquarium

To learn more about beluga whales visit Georgia Aquarium’s Animal Guide. To learn more about Georgia Aquarium’s beluga whale research and conservation efforts visit the website.

This article was published on: July 20, 2020