BIOL 4355: Public Aquarium Operations

Course Objectives

• Understand complexities of aquarium and zoo operations including animal environments, health, and education
• Awareness of conservation, disaster planning, guest engagement, and wildlife rescue
• Importance of water quality and life support systems in aquatic environments

Texas State Aquarium (TSA) History

• Original vision for TSA established in 1969
• Construction of Gulf of Mexico exhibit began in 1988
• Grand opening held in 1990 with subsequent developments like Dolphin Bay (2003) and Caribbean Journey (2017)
• Center for Wildlife Rescue opened in 2023; Wildlife Response Operation Center planned for 2024

TSA Today

• Official Aquarium of Texas, largest in the state and 5th largest in the US
• Houses approximately 4,000 animals within 2 million gallons of seawater
• Employs around 60 zoological staff and engages 550,000 visitors annually

TSA Terminology

• TSA: Texas State Aquarium
• GMEB: Gulf of Mexico Exhibit Building
• DB: Dolphin Bay
• CJ: Caribbean Journey
• WRC: Wildlife Rescue Center
• AZA: Association of Zoos and Aquariums
• WROC: Wildlife Response Operations Center

Animal Care Divisions

• Includes Animal Operations, Animal Wellness, and various specialties such as Wildlife Rescue, Marine Health, and Water Quality
• Dive Operations division supports animal care through aquatic expertise

Living Collection at TSA

• Total of 342 species across various taxa; 4071 individuals recorded
• Notable breakdown: 38 mammals, 135 birds, 49 reptiles, 98 elasmobranchs, 1525 teleosts, and 2226 invertebrates

Wildlife Rescue Program

• Largest coastal rescue center in Texas, permitted for marine mammals, birds, and sea turtles
• Over 5,300 animals successfully released back into the wild from 2005 to 2021

Wildlife Care Facilities

• Facilities cater to different patient types: birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals, with critical care units and a surgical suite on-site

Rehabilitation Focus Areas

• Avian Rehabilitation: 45-60 species treated yearly; 4,292 patients from 2005-2017
• Sea Turtle Rehabilitation: Address injuries including boat strikes and entanglements; treatment includes antibiotics and surgeries
• Marine Mammal Rehabilitation: Focus on stabilizing health issues and ensuring long-term recovery

Wildlife Rescue Capacity

• Certified for oiled wildlife recovery and responds to large-scale wildlife disasters
• Collaborates with federal and state agencies, including NOAA and Texas Parks and Wildlife

Emergency Operations and Planning

• First wildlife Emergency Operations Center in the US, focusing on South Texas Gulf Coast responses
• Exercises and planning events scheduled, including tabletop exercises and disaster response training

Research and Innovation

• Engagement in wildlife disaster research, developing response plans
• Recent advancements include sea turtle CT scan technology and the Aquatic Field Stabilization System patent

Strategic Partnerships

• Collaborates with institutions such as Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi and the National Park Service to enhance research and operational capabilities

Final Project

• Objective to design an exhibit that encapsulates course teachings, with species assignment and presentation to TSA leadership

Community and Visitor Engagement

• Aims to inspire appreciation for marine life and promote wildlife conservation through educational exhibits and guest interactions

This quiz covers essential aspects of animal care and operations within public aquariums. Key topics include animal environments, health, conservation efforts, and guest engagement strategies. Gain insight into the complexities of maintaining wildlife and ensuring a resilient aquarium operation.