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Meerkats made possible by Bank of America & Fifth Street Capital
A family of meerkats, one of Africa’s most entertaining species, will burrow into visitors’ hearts in this new special exhibit.
First popularized by the comical sidekick Timon in Disney’s “The Lion King,” and then celebrated in the Animal Planet television series “Meerkat Manor” (2005-2009), meerkats are members of the mongoose family that live in social “mobs” or “gangs” in burrows in the Kalahari Desert, in the southern African nations of Botswana and South Africa.
No mere cats, meerkats (Suricata suricatta) are fascinating for living in structured but cooperative societies, including a foraging strategy where adults take turns standing guard upright on their hind feet, watching for predators, while the others eat. As the popular “Meerkat Manor” television series showed, the family-based “mobs” are not lacking in daily drama – from internal relationship issues to battles with other “mobs” encroaching on their territory to the ever-present fear of jackals and eagles.
“These are active animals with very charismatic faces and highly interesting social structures, so they’ll be a lot of fun for visitors to watch,” said Jack Schneider, the Aquarium’s curator of animals.
The exhibit features six sibling meerkats – three males, three females – born in the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their Maritime Aquarium habitat will offer windows into their underground burrows, so all meerkat activity will be within view. A viewing bubble will even let young visitors stand up right among the meerkats.
Seasons of Change, Global Warming in Your Backyard (through May 31, 2011)
New exhibit examines global warming’s effects on New England How would you feel if you couldn’t have any more lobster dinners? What if New England’s summers no longer faded into autumn’s lovely reds, yellows and oranges? Or what if Boston’s Back Bay became part of the Bay?
“Seasons of Change: Global Warming in Your Backyard” is an interactive traveling exhibit that illustrates how climate change is impacting the landscape of New England over the shifting of the seasons.
As you explore the exhibit, which will be at The Maritime Aquarium from Dec. 10 through Memorial Day 2011, you’ll get a chance to:
• learn how climate change is affecting the plants, animals and environments of New England;
• share your thoughts about what New England resources you would miss most if current predictions about climate change occur;
• compare coastlines today with projections for 2100;
• and control a global climate-change simulation.
“This exhibit is an interesting and complex exploration of the real impacts of climate change and how it affects our daily lives,” said Judith Bacal, the Aquarium’s exhibits director. “The better we understand what is happening, the more able we will be to make informed decisions on how to change our behaviors and make better policies to ensure a healthier environment for our future. ”
The exhibit encourages you to become a “Citizen Scientist” and develop your own project to study the environment. Projects can range from bird watching to water testing or temperature tracking.
“Seasons of Change” was developed by the Center for Environmental Studies at Brown University, and has been generously funded by the National Science Foundation.
TEACHERS! Educational Resources available for this exhibit, click here
Africa: From the Desert to the Sea sponsored by Bank of America
Explore aquatic wonders of Africa and be home by dinner. See amazing fish from the Nile River, Red Sea, and lakes of Africa’s Great Rift Valley in this exhibit featuring some of the lesser-known but equally fascinating aquatic animals from the African continent. Species highlighted include air-breathing lungfish, catfish that use bioelectricity to sense their surroundings, colorful cichlid fish, and dazzling coral reef fish. Plus, bonus species are giant day geckos, black mud turtles and enormous ground boa snakes. A hippo play space greets children as they enter.
Interspersed throughout are important messages about animal adaptation, the importance of habitat preservation and conservation, stories that show how fish from the other side of the world face challenges similar to those in Long Island Sound. A great way to “explore” Africa for less than the cost of a tank of gas!
Go Fish: Long Island Sound & Beyond sponsored by Aetna Founation
Explore our important relationship with fish – past, present and future – in “Go Fish! Long Island Sound & Beyond,” a permanent new exhibit featuring live local species and interactive displays, at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.
Centerpiece of the exhibit is a new 30,000-gallon tank stocked with cod, striped bass, Atlantic salmon, tautogs, wolffish and spiny dogfish sharks. Soon to be added to the tank is an enormous 7-foot Atlantic halibut, the largest species of flatfish on our coast.
“Go Fish!” will drive home the connection between the fish displayed in The Maritime Aquarium and the visitors who come to see them. The exhibit will urge visitors to “respect the fish” by understanding the cultural importance of fish and fishing – both recreational and commercial – and by realizing that our actions can overwhelm – or sustain – the oceans’ bounty.
Visitors will be encouraged to pledge to “Respect the Fish” after they go home, by always making informed seafood choices, getting a fishing license and obeying fishing rules, practicing catch-and-release fishing, and helping to clean and protect the environment.
“Happy Feet: The Ride” in 3-D SimulatedAdventure ride-film. Runs approximately every 15 minutes, daily. This motion-simulator ride film lets you experience "Happy Feet" as never before!
Located outside on the plaza. Ride-film tickets: $5.50 (Aquarium members save $1) in addition to Aquarium admission. Riders must be at least 36 inches tall to board and in good health.
a foraging strategy where adults take turns standing guard upright on their hind feet, watching for predators, while the others eat. As the popular “Meerkat Manor” television series showed, the family-based “mobs” are not lacking in daily drama – from internal relationship issues to battles with other “mobs” encroaching on their territory to the ever-present fear of jackals and eagles.
sponsored by Bank of America
nd the visitors who come to see them. The exhibit will urge visitors to “respect the fish” by understanding the cultural importance of fish and fishing – both recreational and commercial – and by realizing that our actions can overwhelm – or sustain – the oceans’ bounty.
