Published March 21, 2016
Please touch the animals. Visitors to the three North Carolina state aquariums get to touch sharks stingrays soft-shell turtles horseshoe crabs or other ocean dwellers on display in the hands-on areas of each facility. The North Carolina Aquarium system turns 40 this September and all three facilities are continuing their original calling — to educate. Originally formed as marine science centers Fort Fisher Pine Knoll Shores and Roanoke Island aquariums remain favorite field trip destinations for students as well as tourist attractions and special event venues. “The three North Carolina Aquariums connect visitors with the natural world in an educational and engaging way ” says David Griffin the state Aquariums Division director. “In the evolution of the aquariums from Marine Science Resource Centers to the now-nationally recognized attractions they’ve become the mission and commitment to caring for our wild places has not wavered.” The Aquariums Division was placed under the state’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources about seven months ago. A fourth smaller venue Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head is also part of the aquarium system and is known for its 1 000-foot concrete fishing pier. It has fish tanks in the pier house and a gift and tackle shop. Each of the big three aquariums has the typical tanks of various sizes with fish that range from beautiful to scary. And each aquarium has something unique that makes a visit to all three worthwhile. One aquarium is the final resting place for a member of an all-black Coast Guard unit. One was recently mentioned by NBC weather personality Al Roker for rescuing cold-stunned sea turtles. And one lets you walk through a 16th-century Spanish galleon wreck site to see the marine animals making use of their sunken home. Visitors learn by viewing fish snakes newts spiders and more in tanks reading about their habitat interacting with trained volunteers watching live scuba divers guessing at did-you-know displays and viewing short videos that range from turtles crawling out of a boil to seahorses giving birth — that’s male seahorses giving birth. Guests also learn about the state’s ecosystems from the mountains to the ocean and quite a bit about state history. Each aquarium offers a variety of summer camps specialty tours holiday-themed parties traveling exhibits from dinosaurs to butterfly houses and is available for some private events even weddings on the grounds or “under the sea.” Fort Fisher Aquarium The first animal visitors see at the Fort Fisher Aquarium about 45 minutes from downtown Wilmington is unexpectedly a bald eagle. His squeaky call can be heard as visitors enter the cavernous river and stream conservatory. He shares the space with a variety of freshwater fish and some newts and alligators. Guests at the facility will also see and hear a sudden loud burst of mist. It can be a bit startling. K.C. Jackson an 8-year-old from Baltimore Maryland had just passed the long-nose gar in a river-like tank when the very noisy intermittent mist shot into the air. He his sister Shakirah Smith a Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune and their mother Nakisha Jackson all jumped and screamed lightly when the mist shot out. The mist is simply used to water the tall plants in the conservatory but is lends a bit of excitement in a room that feels like a “Jurassic Park” film set. The star of the initial exhibit is a rare white albino alligator. Jackson’s mother explains how the alligator could not adapt well to its environment since it lacks the camouflage the other alligators have. They are nearly the same color as the murky water they are lounging in. “I like the albino alligator ” the younger Jackson says. Pointing at scratches on the tank and observing the gator’s long nails he says “I think it likes to scratch the tank.” Inside the rooms get darker and cooler. The large two-story saltwater tank has multiple viewing areas on both floors of the aquarium. Guests can see sharks eels rays that weigh more than 100 pounds and dozens of types of fish that poke in and out of the recreated coral reef. At feeding time an educator explains the process talks about which large animals get their food on a stick and explains why Sheldon a green sea turtle has to eat his meals inside a basket. He’s a vegetarian and is on a very strict diet. Volunteers and staff are stationed throughout the facility to answer questions and allow visitors to pet a rotating variety of creatures. Lauren Donald a member of the education department staff oversees the experience so it is safe for people and the animals. Recently she was allowing visitors to touch a spiny soft-shell turtle. Volunteer Gary mans a petting tank where visitors can touch a loggerhead turtle while watching a video of baby turtles scrambling out of the boil (hatching nest). As stronger turtles work their way out others are used as stepping-stones and can become buried in the sand. On a recent visit the turtle on display was one of five turtles recovered when environmentalists were excavating a nest. “I call this one Dead Turtle Walking ” he says since it survived being trapped and abandoned in the nest chamber. There are a lot of great photo opportunities in the aquarium but one of the most popular spots is reminiscent of the film “Jaws.” There is a replica of a 6-foot-tall open jaw of an extinct shark a Megalodon where people pose between the teeth and feign a shark attack. One of the most mesmerizing displays is the cylindrical jellyfish tank. White ghostly jellies float against a black-lighted tank. Visitors learn that jellyfish are 98 percent water. And around the corner is a tank of colorful seahorses flittering around propelled by their tiny spiral tails. The aquarium offers an autism-friendly day with sensory rooms tailored to individuals with autism. Some of these related activities include playing with kinetic sand water beads colored lighting smelling containers and a bird sound activity. There is also a “calm room” to give families a quiet space if needed. New for this spring is a seasonal exhibit called “Dinosaurs!” that features animatronic beasts that spit and roar. The exhibit in the aquarium’s outdoor garden includes an intimidating Tyrannosaurus rex a 23-foot-long Brachiosaurus and four other life-sized prehistoric creatures. Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium Traveling from Wilmington the two-hour trip to Pine Knoll Shores on Emerald Isle includes some beautiful scenery including wonderful water views over the Bogue Sound bridges. A two-story waterfall sets the tone — a loud splashy one — for the start of a visit. It welcomes guests into the mountains and streams section of the aquarium. This section highlights animals whose habitat is North Carolina creeks and rivers.
By Chris Russell
Wrightsville Beach Magazine - March 2016
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