We recently attended Aquarium of the Pacific‘s media event and had a wonderful time learning about coral reefs. There is a relaunch of the exhibition, Aquarium’s Coral Reefs: Nature’s Underwater Cities which features colorful and diverse coral reef environments and their animal residents in the Tropical Pacific Gallery. A green sea turtle, flashlight fish, clownfish, glowing reef, day octopus and twinspot lionfish, are all part of this new exhibition at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. The Aquarium invites the public to explore the exhibition this summer and through April 2022. Check out some of the videos of this exhibition in our instagram.
One of the highlights was being able to immerse ourselves in the Coral Reefs experience at the Honda Pacific Visions Theater. We also saw a special seabird, and watched the Pacific Pals puppet show! The seabird Animal Ambassador is Sula, the red-footed booby. Sula is one of only two known red-footed boobies living at a zoo or aquarium.
Exhibits include a coral lagoon habitat functioning as a nursery for young fish, an exhibit with corals confiscated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an exhibit of coral eaters such as parrotfish, an exhibit highlighting bioluminescent and fluorescent animals on coral reefs, and more. Through the exhibition and program experience, we learned about coral reefs, the threats they face, and what each person can do to help save them.
The message that really hit home from hearing the Aquarium’s animal experts is that the Coral Reefs might disappear in our lifetime. You’ll be able to learn about some the restoration and rescue efforts currently being made. One cool project that we learned about is that the Aquarium scientific divers collect egg and sperm of coral spawning events and grow young corals in the lab that are returned to the reef to help restore damaged reefs in certain parts of the world such as Guam and Palau. Learn more about coral reefs by visiting this exhibition soon.
WHEN: May 28, 2021, through April 2022
WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
PUBLIC COST: Free to children under age three and Aquarium members and included with general admission for the public / General admission: $36.95 adult (12+), $33.95 senior (62+), and $26.95 child (3-11) / Advance reservations required for everyone / Safety protocols
INFO: (562) 590-3100 or visit aquariumofpacific.org
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