Did you know that the frog species were the first animals with vocal cords? Did you know that seahorses are actually fish not little serpents or mermaids as legend tells us, and that it is the male who becomes pregnant, not the female? Did you know that an area of a rainforest the size of a football field is being destroyed each second? If not, then you should definitively consider making a visit to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Dramatic architecture and bright outdoor graphics invite you to investigate further this jewel of the city's vital Inner Harbor area. One of the world's largest and most sophisticated aquatic museums, the city's premier tourist attraction re-creates habitats from all over the world to house more than 15,000 sea creatures in over two million gallons of water. Its glass-and-steel pyramid shape is as unusual and stunning as the diverse sea creatures it houses. Most of the exhibits in the aquarium are part of a self-guided tour, so you can learn at your own pace. By using dramatic video, interactive displays and hi-tech graphics to assist you in your tour, the Aquarium not only introduces you to these special little creatures, but also inspires and intrigues you to want to learn even more. Whatever your interests, the National Aquarium provides a fun and educational visit for all! Upon entering the facility, you are treated to a 35-foot high waterfall, modeled from an actual waterfall in a Maryland state park. At its base, the moss-covered rocks, freshwater fish, and native species of frogs and turtles invite you to continue your reflection on the diversity of Maryland. Upon entering the lobby, you first notice 16 gurgling "bubble tubes," a just for fun introduction to the world of water. Children gravitate to the floor-to-ceiling tubes, dart between them, hug them, and listen to them. Embarking on the "one-way-street" route through the Main Aquarium Building, you first look down upon Wings in the Water, the world's largest collection of stingrays, silently and gracefully swimming among several species of small sharks. While we were there, several volunteers entered the 265,000-gallon pool to feed them. Volunteers, you say? Yes. Volunteers are essential to the operations at the aquarium. Over 600 volunteers greet the more than 1.5 million yearly visitors to share their enthusiasm and knowledge about the conservation and ecological benefits of our oceans, and the wonderful creatures who call these waters home.
Within the assumptions of the structural frame we will use it The first and most notable structural management issue is the goals that were setup by the aquarium. The original goal of the aquarium, as stated in the first mission statement, was, “make known the world of water through education, research, and exhibition.” Since the aquarium wanted to attract a diverse population into the aquarium the mission statement was amended to say a “responsive community resource to attract the broadest possible audience”, and a “culturally diverse staff.” There were many different types of programs to reach the goals of the aquarium, but they...
Perhaps the most visible and obvious structural issue revolves around the aquarium's mission statement and goals. As noted in the case study, the original mission statement "make known the world of water through education, research, and exhibition" concentrates on its goal to bring sea life to the community. The new mission statement saw the aquarium as a "responsive community resource that attracts the broadest possible audience delivering highest quality experience" and as "a culturally diverse staff."
For 50 years SeaWorld has entertained park guests with numerous stunts involving the majestic sea creature, the orca, also referred to as the killer whale, and their human trainers. What the on-lookers don’t see at these shows is what goes on behind the scenes: how the whales got there in the first place, and the conditions in which they are housed.
Within the state of Florida there are dozens of individualized, non-profit organizations making an effort to help the local wildlife. The local land and marine wildlife includes birds, geckos, frogs, snakes, panthers, manatees, sea turtles, fishes, sharks, corals, lizards and many, many more. Florida State is located on the Southeastern tip of the United States providing a unique opportunity for conservation of salt-water animals. While there are animal conservation efforts taking place all over the world, this essay will focus on two animal species that humans are specifically trying to save in Florida State. The two main animal species of focus are manatees and sea turtles.
When I was six years old, my parents took me to SeaWorld for the first time. I remember clearly watching the Shamu show and sitting in the splash zone ending up soaked in water by the end. But I also distinctly remember wondering how an animal so big and beautiful could ever be happy in such a small tank, so far away from home. The animals could never possibly experience the joy they would out in the wild where they belonged. And even a six year old wasn’t blind to that fact.
The Long Island Sound is an estuary, and is in fact one of the largest in the world. An estuary is a place where salt water from the ocean mixes with fresh water from the rivers that drain from the land. Moreover, like other estuaries, the Long Island Sound has an abundance of fish and other waterfowl that add to the natural balance of the island, as well as one of the most important economic factors (Tedesco). Like other estuaries around the world, the Sound provides breeding, feeding, nesting, and nursery areas for many species that will spend most of their adult lives in the oceans (Long Island Sound Study). Despite these similarities to other estuaries, the Long Island Sound is unique from anywhere else in the world. Unlike other estuaries, the Long Island Sound does not just have one connection to the sea but it has two. It has two major sources of fresh water flowing into the bay that empty into the ocean. It combines this two-...
Overall, this is really a good experience for me to participate in this interdisciplinary project. I like the implications under it, because this is a meaningful project. It is concerned about not only the Delaware River, but also us all.
Throughout every human’s life in the United States, there will portably come a time when they take a trip to an aquarium or zoo. Do not get me wrong; it is incredible to see all those beautiful creatures up close and personal, but most people do not realize what actually is going on. Typically, when the day is spent at the zoo or aquarium, the day usually follows a schedule like this: You spend the day roaming the grounds, moving from habitat to habitat, break for lunch, and then once you’ve seen everything you want to see you return home and are free to do whatever you want to do. The harsh reality of these places is that while it is cool to spend the day there, you would never want to spend your entire life there. The animals are taken from
In the text “My Trip to the City Aquarium” the author talks about how he didn’t really care for the aquarium because he didn’t have any experience, but he liked to learn new things so he’d act positive about it.
According to ancient Egyptian records from around 1250 B.C., animals like birds, lions, and giraffes have been kept in captivity. According to the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), a nonprofit organization that is committed to help zoos and aquariums in conservation, there are over 10,000 zoos, aquariums, and reserves worldwide. The Department of Agriculture has about 2,400 licensed zoos and aquariums in the United States alone. Of these 2,400 zoos and aquariums, only 212 are associated with the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) requires that these zoos and aquariums have high quality animal care (Fravel). There is a very controversial debate on whether zoos, aquariums, and reserves
Citizens visit thousands of zoos worldwide to admire and satisfy their curiosity of the beautiful wild animals that mother nature has to offer. Zoos have been around for hundreds of years and have become a known tradition for numerous school field trips and family outings. The ongoing debate between animal rights activists along with zoo officials remains to be a question of concern, should wild animals be removed from their natural habitats to live in city zoos for education and entertainment purposes?
The first zoo in the United States was established in 1874 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia zoo first only had 813 animals but has grown today to have 1,300 animals, still having the same forty-two acres as it did when it first opened. Today there are zoos in almost every major city across the country and even more around the world. But along with zoos, there are marine parks and aquariums. The most famous marine park is SeaWorld, which has three different locations in the nation: Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio. Zoos and aquariums were first brought about to learn about the species that we live with on this planet. To be educated about the wild creatures who are so different from ourselves. Zoos and the caging of wild animals have been around for centuries, there is evidence from Egypt of rulers having wild animals as pets, locking them in cages, just like how today people have hamsters but instead, you would have a wild animal. Today, zoos are used for education to teach people about wild animals so that we can learn ways to conserve the planet and the animals’ habitats, in order to prevent more animals from becomin...
Vaill, Peter B.. "Introduction: An Ordinary Day on the River." Learning as a Way of Being: Strategies for Survival in a World of Permanent White Water. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1996. 1-20. Print.
One of my first museums I visited in Washington, D.C. was The National Museum of Natural History. I arrived with no expectations besides the thought of how am I going to spend 3 hours here? While walking through the doors I was astonished to see the enormous elephant standing there as if it was guarding the museum entrance. I continued through the exhibits looking at the amazing skeletons of the extinct creatures that once roamed this earth, possibly in the spot I was standing in. As I went further into the museum, I arrived at the Butterfly Pavilion. It was a room that you can go into to observe real, live, enormous butterflies. The exhibits there made my mind run wild like never before. In my mind the purpose of The National Museum of Natural His...
There has been a long-standing debate surrounding the nature of zoological parks. In recent years, the concern over the health and safety of animals in captivity has grown significantly. This is due, in part, to the rise in attention people have started paying towards the way these animals are treated and held captive within zoological parks. On the news, more cases pop up yearly involving animals that have been abused, neglected, and even killed. Furthermore, animal rights groups have become larger in numbers and more outspoken regarding the problematic existence of zoos. Though despite these facts, there has not been a decline in the amount of people visiting zoos, the economic revenue is as strong as ever, and the establishments are still