110 posts categorized "Animals"

November 19, 2009

Creating Polar Play Zone at Shedd

PPZ-3 For the top-to-bottom Oceanarium renovation, Kris Nesbitt, senior exhibit designer, and Kara Kotwas, senior graphic designer, saw the underwater viewing gallery as a blank canvas on which to create a universally accessible permanent exhibit where “all children can find something to do.”

Continue reading "Creating Polar Play Zone at Shedd" »

November 14, 2009

60 oval chameleon eggs

Bookmark and Share

Shedd-Mellers-Chameleon Aquarists thought that Leif, a Meller’s chameleon on view in Waters of the World, was just gaining weight. Then a series of X-rays revealed that she was full of developing eggs – so full, in fact, that “she looked like a gumball machine,” says senior aquarist Stacy Wozniak. About a month ago, the 2-foot-long lizard spent a morning laying 60 oval eggs in the moss at the back of her habitat.

Continue reading "60 oval chameleon eggs" »

November 10, 2009

Fantasea is a "must sea!"

Bookmark and Share

The reviews are in and Fantasea is a "must sea!" Check out reviews in The Chicago Tribune, Southtown Star and WBBM radio.

Check out this video introducing the cast of Shedd's new aquatic show.



Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
Bookmark and Share

October 21, 2009

Medusas on the move

Bookmark and Share

Shedd-Pacific-sea-nettle Look for Pacific sea nettles in the 700-gallon circular display outside the elevators to Wild Reef. The moon jellies that occupied that space, floating in a hypnotic circular flow, have moved to the Icy North section of Polar Play Zone in the Oceanarium. And a good thing.

Continue reading "Medusas on the move" »

October 16, 2009

Oceanarium Reimagined: A Look Back

Bookmark and Share 
Here's a look back at the renovation of the reimagined Oceanarium. Thanks for supporting Shedd and visit us soon!



Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
Bookmark and Share

October 12, 2009

Meet Shedd sea otter Kiana

Bookmark and Share
As the sun began to set on Shoop Bay, near Valdez, Alaska, a group of recreational boaters were pretty sure the tiny, screaming sea otter they’d been keeping an eye on all day had been abandoned by her mother, and they contacted wildlife authorities. The 2-pound pup was taken to the Alaska Sea Life Center and treated for dehydration and low blood sugar. Shortly after that, in late March of 2005, Shedd got a call from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, asking if we had room for an abandoned sea otter pup. Enter Kiana.

Continue reading "Meet Shedd sea otter Kiana" »

October 08, 2009

Fantasea at Shedd Aquarium trailer

Bookmark and Share

Check out the official trailer for Fantasea, which debuts Oct. 16 at Shedd!



Posted by Jay Geneske, web editor
 
Bookmark and Share

October 02, 2009

Meet Shedd sea otter Mari

Mari and Kiana, Shedd’s youngest otters, came to us as 2- to 3-month-old pups, courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Kiana was a real rescue – either abandoned or orphaned – but Mari was most likely doing just fine when a well-meaning kayaker intervened.

Continue reading "Meet Shedd sea otter Mari" »

October 01, 2009

Sea otters make the Right Bite

Shedd-Aquarium-Alaskan-Sea-OtterShedd’s hungry sea otters chomp down 7,000 pounds of shrimp a year. The problem is, serious environmental issues such as habitat destruction and bycatch are associated with shrimp trawling and aquaculture. Bycatch, or unintentional catch, occurs when animals such as sea turtles, large fishes and seabirds become entangled in fishing gear. For every pound of shrimp netted in the wild, up to 10 pounds of unwanted marine life is also caught – and usually drowned or fatally injured.

Continue reading "Sea otters make the Right Bite" »

September 28, 2009

Meet Shedd sea otter Kachemak

KachemakShedd’s success in raising the four Exxon Valdez oil spill pups impressed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service so much that a year after the spill, in 1990, the service called to see if the aquarium could take a month-old pup found stranded on a beach in Homer, Alaska. Wildlife officials speculated that the 6-pound otter had been separated from her mother during a storm.

Because the infant needed constant care, she was allowed to ride in the cockpit of the cargo jet, along with Shedd’s otter specialist and veterinarian, on the flight from Anchorage to Chicago. The otter was named Kachemak after the bay where she was found.

Continue reading "Meet Shedd sea otter Kachemak " »