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January 27, 2009
At Shedd, animals connect you to the living world, inspiring you to make a difference. Maybe it’s the belugas that touch you, or the dolphins, sea otters, sea turtle, beautiful fishes, or fragile corals. For Donna Vickroy, a reporter for the Southtown Star, it was one of the familiar furry, four-legged stars of our new pet show. Read her great story about Wylie.
Posted by Karen Furnweger, web editor
January 21, 2009
The renovated sea lion habitat in construction.
Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
January 14, 2009
Two green tree pythons, sisters Jasmine (pictured) and Ivy, have joined the Animal Encounters program. You’ll see one or the other 4-foot snake comfortably looped on a branch, held by a staff member, as if she were on a tree – because this species is almost completely arboreal. The deep pits visible in the upper and lower lips detect infrared radiation—heat from warm-blooded prey. Hidden in the rain forest canopy, its prehensile tail grasping a branch, a green tree python strikes from an S-shaped position to grab a rodent on the ground or a baby bird in a tree, constrict and swallow it whole. Being nocturnal and a little shy—and well-fed—Jasmine and Ivy are well-behaved around guests. See them soon!
Posted by Karen Furnweger, web editor
January 13, 2009
Members of Whole Foods’ Chicago team present a check for $21,676.40 to Shedd Aquarium employees on behalf of the 5% community support day held in October. The proceeds will benefit Shedd’s conservation programs.
Posted by Libby Joyce, marketing
January 09, 2009
Woe to the predator that ignores the bold warning stripes of the lionfish. Within those beautiful fanned fins are prickly poisonous spines. At rest, the lionfish keeps its fins folded and close to its body. But when it’s hungry, it will flare those fins to corner a smaller fish or crustacean, subdue it with its stun-gun spines and suck it in whole. See our two new lionfish in Wild Reef, along with four new flathead anthias – dazzling little orange fish with yellow tails. While you’re here, check out more recent additions in Waters of the World, including Madagascar rainbow fish and, giving you an idea of the spectacular diversity of our own southeastern waters, ridged sawback rainbow fish, bluefin killifish, black-banded sunfish and blue-spotted sunfish. Wow!
Posted by Karen Furnweger, web editor
January 06, 2009
The classroom and underwater work of Shedd's Underwater Photography Class for adults was wonderful. In addition to our instructor’s knowledge, ability to teach to different experience levels and availability of practice equipment, being in the Caribbean Reef was a phenomenal experience. This picture of Nickel came as I was hovering about 3 feet over the green moray eel. I looked up to see Nickel being a little more curious than I had ever expected. Thank goodness for autofocus, because I snapped the shutter more out of reflexive surprise than careful composition. What a great adventure!
Posted by Gene Weiss, photography student
