Due to popular demand, Secrets of the Swamp to remain open through April!

The National Aquarium in Washington, DC announced today that due to popular demand, they will be extending the stay of their albino alligator, Oleander, and the Secrets of the Swamp exhibit until April 29, 2012.

Oleander is an extremely rare albino alligator that was hatched in Louisiana and is a permanent resident of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park in Florida. Fewer than 100 of these extraordinary species exist worldwide due to the many environmental challenges that they face. Albinism is a genetic lack of melanin pigment in eyes and skin, resulting in the alligator’s unusual translucent scales and pinkish eyes. Albino alligators are very sensitive to sunlight, and because of their inability to blend in with their surroundings, they create unwanted attention to themselves from predators. This leaves albino alligators with an extremely low survival rate in the wild.

Oleander came to the National Aquarium in Washington, DC, in October and was originally scheduled to depart this month but because of her tremendous popularity, the National Aquarium decided to extend her stay until the end of April.

“It seems that the public just cannot get enough of Oleander,” said Bob Ramin, Chief Development Officer of the National Aquarium and Executive Director of the National Aquarium in Washington, DC. “This additional time gives those who didn’t have the opportunity before to come in and meet her.”

Shortly after Oleander’s arrival, the public got to take part in naming her through a contest facilitated over their social media channels. Over 550 people participated in the naming contest. An oleander is a flowering shrub, native to Louisiana and the southern region of the US. In addition to sharing the same home state, this plant and alligator have very similar qualities: they are both unique and beautiful, yet they can both be dangerous.

The exhibit is free with the cost of admission to the aquarium. Public alligator feedings occur every Friday at 2:00pm. National Aquarium husbandry staff provides visitors with an educational lesson on the lives and habits of alligators and an up-close demonstration of how alligators are target trained to respond to colors in connection with their feedings.

Visitors can also see Oleander during Reptile and Amphibian Day on February 25th! This event will celebrate the many reptiles and amphibians at the aquarium, with activities, presentations and interactions. All activities are included with general admission to the National Aquarium in Washington, DC.
Click here to learn more about Reptile and Amphibian Day!

Washington, DC – February 14 – The National Aquarium is excited to introduce the Fresh Thoughts: Sustainable Seafood Dining Series at its Washington D.C. venue this March. This new series will celebrate sensible and scrumptious seafood choices with the help of renowned Washington DC chefs. The first of the dining experiences will introduce a fish whose taste is distinctive as its story; the invasive Red Lionfish. As part of a growing stategy coined Eat ‘Em to Beat ‘Em, the National Aquarium will embark on a week-long trip to the Bahamas on February 20, 2011 with Chef Xavier Deshayes, Executive Chef for the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, to collect, prepare and ship the fish that will be served just days later at the Aquarium’s first Fresh Thoughts dinner.

(Washington, DC, December 21, 2010) — Save the sharks is the message in the nation’s capital this week as thousands of letters collected from visitors to the National Aquarium, Washington were personally delivered in sacks by syndicated cartoonist and Aquarium partner Jim Toomey to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA) Assistant Administrator Eric Schwaab. Additional efforts to protect sharks mounted this week on Capitol Hill as both the Senate and House passed the Shark Conservation Act, sponsored by Senator John Kerry (D-MA).

This past weekend, the National Aquarium, Washington, DC hosted its annual Shark weekend celebration and introduced its newest exhibit, Sherman’s Lagoon. The permanent exhibit is home to Sherman the Shark, a popular character created by nationally syndicated cartoonist Jim Toomey, and is dedicated to the Aquarium’s important work on shark education and conservation.

Jim Toomey partnered with the Aquarium’s shark experts to share his creative ideas of communicating fun and interesting facts about sharks. The exhibit features interactive workstations, educational videos, shark myths and conservation messages from Sherman the Shark. Activities include spinning the “Wheel of Doom” to learn about the dangers that sharks face as well as an art station where visitors can draw their own illustrations of Sherman.

Sherman himself has been brought to life as a costumed character exclusively for the Aquarium. Sherman helps promote greater awareness and protection of these ancient, mysterious and often misunderstood ocean dwellers.

“For nearly 30 years, the National Aquarium has been a leader in shark conservation through our care and research,” commented Bob Ramin, executive director of the National Aquarium’s DC venue.  “With the help of Jim Toomey, we have created an engaging exhibit that will now help us educate our visitors about the importance of shark conservation and eliminate misconceptions about these fascinating ocean creatures.”

Sherman’s Lagoon is one of the many exhibits in the aquarium that incorporates education with fun. While tending to the activities, visitors will learn about sharks and the National Aquarium’s ongoing work in shark conservation and protection. 

Visitors are encouraged by the Aquarium to help their cause by signing a personalized petition to send to congressional lawmakers just down the street in support of the Shark Conservation Act. The act is intended to protect sharks, mainly from fishing and shark finning, from possible endangerment or extinction. On average around 73 million sharks are killed each year equating to around 200,000 per day, making them one of the most threatened animals in our waters. 

After exploring Sherman’s Lagoon visitors can also stop by the Channel Islands, National Marine Sanctuary Exhibit to see the various sharks lurk around in their exhibit and witness Lunchtime with Sharks, one of the Aquariums many daily animal encounters. Feeding of the Leopard, Swell and Horn shark take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. Visitors will also learn what makes sharks different from other ocean creatures.

Conservation of animals and the environment continues to be a large priority of the National Aquarium. The National Aquarium promotes respect and care for the environment and the animals that live in it through research and multiple education programs. To learn more about the National Aquarium’s conservation work, aqua.org/conservation.

(Washington, DC, March 28, 2010) — The National Aquarium, Washington, home to America’s Aquatic Treasures TM, is booming with new life! Families are invited to meet the newest residents of the Aquarium while exploring over 250 aquatic species around the country. The Aquarium’s intimate experience and exhibit design brings children face-to-face with baby alligators, sea turtles, stingrays and more.