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!

The National Aquarium is pleased to announce Steven Schindler has been named the organization’s new Chief Marketing Officer.

In this role, Schindler will oversee all of the National Aquarium’s marketing initiatives for both the Baltimore and Washington, DC venues. Schindler will champion the National Aquarium’s mission to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures.

“I welcome Steve’s strategic approach and collaborative management style to the National Aquarium team,” said John C. Racanelli, CEO of the National Aquarium. “His executive experience at leading successful teams and delivering measureable results strengthen each initiative he undertakes and influences growth for the organizations he represents. Steve’s experience in the digital realm, superb credentials, and career-long dedication to championing brand are welcome additions.”

Schindler brings to the Aquarium more than 20 years of experience developing marketing programs. He has held key marketing positions with Bally’s Las Vegas and Contiki Holidays, where he worked on assignment in London, England developing U.S. inbound tour programs. He also developed advertising programs for destination marketing organizations, attractions and hotels and resorts with San Diego and San Francisco Bay Area advertising agencies. In 1992, he founded his own California-based marketing firm, Schindler Marketing Group, Inc., and served as president and creative director for 16 years before focusing his communications and marketing skills in the digital world. In 2006, Schindler co-founded Sasa Technologies, where he launched two online businesses and spearheaded digital commerce transactions that strengthen business-to-business relationship development, led negotiations with content and distribution partners, and directed online search engine initiatives that optimize online presence and marketing opportunities.

Most recently, he was the vice president of marketing of Local.com Corporation, a leading online media company that connects small and medium businesses and national advertisers with more than 25 million monthly unique visitors. He led that organization’s successful online relaunch; launched the corporation’s daily deals site, Spreebird.com; and led all strategic marketing planning and communications for its diverse consumer and digital businesses.

Schindler earned his Bachelor of Science Marketing and Public Relations Degrees from San Diego State University and studied International Business at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Download Steven Schindler Press Release
Download Steven Schindler Photo

Washington, DC – On Tuesday, June 28, Dr. Erik Rifkin, Executive Director of the National Aquarium Conservation Center was invited to provide testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife. The hearing, entitled, “Status of the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment” focused on the evaluation and improvement of our ability to measure long-term chronic damages to our environment in the wake of last year’s oil spill.

On Sunday, June 26, a group of rehabilitated Kemp’s ridley sea turtles were released into the Chesapeake Bay at Point Lookout State Park in Scotland, Maryland. The public gathered on the beach to join in the festivities.

The turtles came to the National Aquarium in December from the New England Aquarium, after they were found stranded along Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Kemp’s ridley turtles are the most endangered and the smallest of all the sea turtle species, which makes them particularly vulnerable to severe changes in water temperature. They all suffered from cold stunning – the sea turtle equivalent of hypothermia.

After 6 months of rehabilitation by The National Aquarium’s Marine Animal Rescue Program (MARP), the turtles, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, Frosty, and Buddy(the elf), were nursed back to health and ready to be released back to the ocean. They all enjoyed a diet of capelin, shrimp, squid, and mussels at the National Aquarium and nearly doubled in body weight.

The turtles were outfitted with a satellite transmitter that allows us to track the location and speed of the turtles following the release. These tags help researchers learn more about sea turtle migration and travel patterns. The public is invited to follow the turtles’ progress by viewing a satellite map of their travels.

Since Kemp’s ridley sea turtles commonly utilize the Chesapeake Bay during the warm summer months to feed on an assortment of jellies and invertebrates, Aquarium officials felt this was the best time and location to release the turtles and to prepare for the possibility of new patients. The turtles are expected to stay in the Mid-Atlantic region or head north for the summer.

Oceana joined the Aquarium to help educate people on their save the sea turtles campaign, which is dedicated to the protection and restoration of sea turtle populations in the world’s oceans. The campaign works to reduce sea turtle bycatch in fisheries, protect sea turtle habitat and develop legislation to protect sea turtles. The National Aquarium and Oceana have similar goals; to protect and conserve sea turtle populations for future generations.

Many of MARP’s patients are sick or injured due to human-related problems like boat strikes, gear entanglement or plastic ingestion. Weather, malnourishment, exhaustion and pollution also contribute to strandings.

Rescuing and studying stranded animals provides vital information about the status of the ocean and coastal environments, as well as the biology and health of the animals that live in those environments.

The public is invited to help with the National Aquarium’s marine animal rehabilitation efforts. Txt ACT to 20222 to make a $5 donation. Msg & data rates apply or visit aqua.org.

These turtles were the 89th, 90th, 91st, 92nd, and 93rd animals released by the National Aquarium’s
MARP program. Formed in 1991 and staffed almost entirely by volunteers, the Marine Animal
Rescue program has responded to hundreds of strandings, including seals, dolphins and endangered
sea turtles, and to sightings of manatees, dolphins and other marine mammals.

John C. Racanelli was named today Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Aquarium Institute (NAI) by unanimous approval of the Board of Directors. The aquarium industry veteran, who assumes responsibilities July 18, will oversee the NAI’s aquariums in Baltimore and Washington DC, as well as the National Aquarium Conservation Center (NACC), the Center for Aquatic Life and Conservation (CALC), and the National Aquarium Foundation.