“To The Rescue” Exhibition at the Texas State Aquarium Shares Wildlife Rescue Stories with Guests
October 10, 2018
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – A new media exhibition at the Texas State Aquarium entitled “To the Rescue” gives a comprehensive look at how the Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue team gives a second chance at life to ill and injured shorebirds, raptors, marine mammals, and sea turtles.
The multimedia exhibit, which is on display through February 2019 in the Aquarium’s new changing exhibit gallery, follows 17 different animals from when they were first taken in by rescuers at the Aquarium all the way through their treatment and rehabilitation. Many of the stories conclude with the animal’s release into its natural habitat, or, if injuries left the animal non-releasable, show how this “animal ambassador” made the Aquarium its permanent home. Notable stories include Champ the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, which was found with a missing flipper and now resides at the Aquarium, or a brown pelican that was entangled in fishing line, but eventually recovered and was released in Corpus Christi.
The exhibition provides a personalized snapshot of just a few of the hundreds of animals the Wildlife Rescue Center takes in each year. In 2018 so far, the Aquarium has taken in approximately 1,250 Rescue patients, including more than 1,000 sea turtles. “To the Rescue” highlights some of the Aquarium’s most memorable releases to show guests how their admission and membership contributes to the Aquarium’s ongoing rescue work. When guests see these animals’ inspiring tales of recovery, they can be proud to know that their support of the Aquarium is making successful rescues like these possible.
Portions of the exhibit also focus on Wildlife Rescue’s history, how it takes in and treats animals, and the specific threats that lead to many of their injuries. At the end of the exhibit, nearly 70 acrylic boxes line a wall that contain remnants of fishing line and tackle, pellets from gunshot wounds and other improperly discarded waste that our Rescue team has removed from actual wildlife patients. While the Aquarium wants this exhibit to show guests how they’re helping support wildlife rescue through their Aquarium admission, it hopes these kinds of displays also teach about how to protect wildlife from being harmed in the first place by properly disposing of fishing line and other waste.
The exhibit is open now through February 2019, when it will be replaced with a new media exhibit. Viewings of “To the Rescue” are available during all of the Aquarium’s regular hours and access is included with Aquarium admission.
The Texas State Aquarium is open daily. To purchase tickets in advance and skip the line or to learn more about exhibits, hours and other visitor information, visit www.texasstateaquarium.org.