Health Care

We work to maintain our animal's health with treatments and environments that increase the likelihood of healthy individuals as well as the rapid diagnosis of treatment of injury or disease.

Through careful maintenance and design of their habitats, were supply nutrition, food, and safe environments that help keep an animal in good health. Exhibits are carefully observed for any feature – a sharp corner, loose board, or other items – which might threaten the animal’s safety.

The animals are also regularly evaluated for their health. Staff regular monitor animals, taking into account their body condition, behavior, and other factors. Proactive wellness exams and vaccination programs also help our animals stay in better health. Through careful examination of the animal, which can include testing of samples, we strive to constantly monitor animals; health and respond quickly when their health is not ideal. When an injury or abnormal behavior is observed, staff see that the animal is given prompt medical attention to catch and treat any issues before they develop.

The animal’s mental health is as much of a priority as their physical well-being. Environmental enrichment helps an animal stay mentally and physically active and encourage natural behaviors. Animals are also conditioned by staff to be handled for medical examinations or other health care purposes. In many cases, the animal is even given the choice to willfully participate in an examination!

We are personally and ethically driven to give our animals the best possible health care, but health care also results more oportunities in education and conservation. Healthy animals overall are more active and likely to exhibit natural behaviors and more successful at reproducing, so we can better educate our guests about our collection and even occasionally welcome new animals to our Aquarium family!

Health Care In Action

Champ, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchling, arrived at our Wildlife Rescue Center in 2017. This endangered sea turtle was missing a front flipper (likely due to predation) and was severely lethargic and dehydrated. Staff quickly got to work, and Champ soon rebounded and regained his appetite and the ability to swim…but this resilient sea turtle has some lasting issues that continue to this day.

Rescue Staff observed that while Champ could swim competently, despite his missing flipper, he did not dive below the surface of the water. Staff decided to relocate Champ to one of our exhibits, so he could continue his therapy and rehabilitation.

In our 70,000-gallon, 20-feet deep Coral Reef exhibit, Champ has plenty of opportunities to practice diving, and it helped along by some animal “physical therapists.” On a regular basis, divers encourage Champ to venture below the water by offering him squid and capelin, and we’ve found Champ has begun to spend more time below the water’s surface.

More evaluation is needed to determine Champ’s future, but it seems to be heading in the right direction, thanks largely to a dedicated Animal Care team that provided this turtle with around-the-clock rehabilitation, therapy and health care!