Awww Monday: Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium

A few snaps outside

As soon as we entered the aquarium, they took a photo.

They put 3 different backdrops on it.  

Marlu selected the one with the River Otters

Bryan, Me, our daughter and son in law

This is Eno the oldest I have an entire post on the otters that will post on Nature Friday, Jan 10th

A very well decorated Alligator welcomed all 

I immediately found elves  on a rock

I was able to get some good snaps and some not so good snaps

Regular Aquarium was very busy and hard to get good photos with description signs.

 

Alligator

Skeleton of a Sea Turtle

Behind the scenes guided tour.  Our guide was a Marine Biologist Vet Tech.

OH did she know lots and lots of information.  She came to Pine Knoll shores from the Baltimore Aquarium.  Her husband works there too he is 100% behind the scenes designs many of the diving platforms and lifts that the divers used to go down into the tank and also maintains the equipment.

Filtration System for 350,000 gallon tank just a small portion of the 350,000 gallon tank.

It took up one side of an entire room.

view from platform above the 350,000 tank.

Yellow platform is used for target feeding sharks

There were several sharks in the tank

'

Flagging system is for advising what is going on in the tank

It reads

"Ahoy there know your flags

The following  flags will be flown on the flagpole next to the Living shipwreck acclimation pool to indicate the behind the scenes tour access status.

Green: ok to enter, all may approach exhibit railings throughout the entire area.  However, take care not to lean out over the railings or drop any thing into exhibit

Flag with white rectangle with navy

Red Alpha with diagonal white line: Means there is a diver in progress or divers are preparing to enter the water or divers are exiting the water.  Essential staff and VIP's must stay completely clear of railings and dive entry area.  Tours and nonessential staff must stay in designated area

Black Flag: DO NOT ENTER ESSENTIAL STAFF ONLY HUSBANDRY OR CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE UNDERWAY.  THESE PROCEDURES WILL BE KNOW AS BLACK FLAG PROCEUDRES.

They were in the process of cleaning all the tanks in here so we walked thru quickly

Food prep

Our guide was standing on the other side of the room where there were two 8' tall refrigerators and one 8' freezer

All of the food the used is sourced from local fisherman

Green sea turtle 

White square is used for training Turtles and turtles feel they are safe when under it

even though there is nothing actually above them

We touched the green sea turtle

Logger Head Turtle

The sea turtles, below, are receiving treatment for severe cases of 

***cold stunned. The ocean got too cold too quickly they were not able to get to warmer water.

The water in their tank is very low until the can breath better.  Many arrive and are already suffering from pneumonia.  Both of these are on several kinds of antibiotics.

As they acclimate and breathing is better the  water level is raised

****COLD STUNNED

With recent drops in weather and water temperature, many communities on our coasts are experiencing hundreds of sea turtles, many of them dead, washing ashore. This phenomenon, known as cold stunning, refers to the changes sea turtles experience when they are exposed to cold water for an extended period of time. But as turtles head farther north to warmer waters that are the result of human-caused climate change, cold stunnings have become more frequent.Sea turtles are reptiles, relying on external sources of heat to maintain their body temperatures. When turtles are cold stunned, usually when water temperatures reach 50 degrees and below, they will experience a decrease in heart rate and circulation causing them to become lethargic. Cold stunning may lead to shock, pneumonia, frostbite, and potentially death, as they are not able to migrate to warmer waters.

With the help of many groups, cold stunned sea turtles can be transported to a rehab facility, placed in a dry tub and evaluated for any other existing health concerns. They will be warmed up slowly and, when appropriate, placed in water and closely monitored by rehab staff. Once fully recovered, the turtles are released.With recent drops in weather and water temperature, many communities on our coasts are experiencing hundreds of sea turtles, many of them dead, washing ashore. This phenomenon, known as cold stunning, refers to the changes sea turtles experience when they are exposed to cold water for an extended period of time. Sea turtles are reptiles, relying on external sources of heat to maintain their body temperatures. When turtles are cold stunned, usually when water temperatures reach 50 degrees and below, they will experience a decrease in heart rate and circulation causing them to become lethargic.

A species of jelly fish that are itty bitty

Lots of behind the scenes research going on with them.

I loved hearing about it from our guide.  She is very involved in the research