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CHEER VISITS THE AQUARIUM

CHEER was recently invited to New York City's Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation by Michael C. Savino, the Aquarium's Manager of Public Affairs. The Aquarium first opened on December 10, 1896, and has been at its present Coney Island location since 1957. to provide me with the greatest appreciation for some of the 10,000 species now housed there, the Aquarium staff invited me to join them inside several exhibits.

We first visited several baby walruses while they were having their breakfast. I should point out, these babies weigh 300 pounds each! While stepping around them, I was warned not to let them walk into me, or else I'd be knocked into their pool! The Aquarium is also home to two fully grown walruses, Tupaq and Nuka, who weigh 1500 pounds each! It's not surprising that these animals weigh so much, considering they eat 400 pounds of squid and fish every week!

I was next led to the newborn Beluga whale calves by Kevin M. Walsh, the Aquarium's Director of Marine Mammal Training. Two young calves swim in their own pool. I walked out onto a raft that floats atop the pool, and was treated to a wonderful view of these beautiful white whales enjoying their after breakfast swim! Mr. Walsh also mentioned to me that the first whale ever born in an aquarium was born here on July 22, 1972. We had hoped that the whales would surface right in front of the raft and smile for the camera, but they were just too tired after their breakfast. I guess eating 450 pounds of fish and squid a week would tire anyone out!

From the whale pool, I then visited Sea Cliffs, a 300 foot long above and below ground home to black footed penguins, grey and fur seals, California sea otters, walruses, and a variety of fish. My guide in Sea Cliffs, Hans Walters, introduced me to the ever-friendly penguin population. These small birds (adults weigh only 8 pounds) live in large colonies along Africa's Southwest coast. As soon as we entered their rocky home, the penguins waddled over to greet us! Later, we watched them swim gracefully, from the underground portion of Sea Cliffs.

After visiting these marine mammals. I was given a tour of the Aquarium's fish, including Bertha, a 9 foot long sand tiger shark! I am happy to report that on this day Bertha and the other fish were very well behaved, though Dennis A. Thoney, the Curator of Marine Fish and Invertebrates told me that on several occasions, he caught the octopus leaving its tank to steal crabs from another tank!

I had enjoyed a delightful day, not only because of the fascination animals who live here, but also because of the Aquarium's friendly and knowledgeable staff. For more information about he Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation, please call (718) 265-FISH.