Monterey Bay Aquarium Review

I recently took a trip to the west coast and had amazing opportunity to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Where is Monterey Bay? Monterey, California is located about a two hour drive south from the city of San Francisco. The aquarium was founded in 1984 on the site of the former Monterey Bay canners sardine factory (remnants of which are displayed inside).

One of the best features of the Monterey Bay Aquarium that makes it so special is its location: right on the shore of Monterey Bay itself. In fact, fresh ocean water is actually continuously pumped into the aquarium. During the day this water is filtered to make viewing easier for guests but at night the ocean water is pumped in as is. How cool is that? Many  types of wildlife can be viewed from the many decks overlooking the bay, including sea otters, seals, star fish, whales, sea birds, and more.

The Kelp Forest exhibit is quite impressive. There is a surge machine at the top of the tank which helps keep the kelp in the constant motion they require. Kelp can grow up to four inches in one day so divers are often seen keeping it nicely trimmed.

My jaw dropped when we entered one room where there is a circular tank above your head containing thousands of fish constantly circling around you.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium was also the first aquarium in the world to successfully keep a great white shark on exhibit. A great white was displayed in the Open Seas tank for 198 days before being released after it bit and killed two other fish.

Also please note, the Monterey Bay Aquarium parking situation is a bit different from what you would expect of a large tourist attraction. There is no parking lot associated with the property. Instead, you will probably have to park in one of several parking garages down Cannery Row Street and walk the short distance to the Monterey Bay acquarium. But the town is very nice and there are lots of neat shops and restaurants along the way, including the Monterey Bay canners.

The main attraction for the Monterey Aquarium is the Sea Otters, but I haven’t mentioned them here because I am going to devote an entire future post just for them, so stay tuned.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium hours are currently:

Regular hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Summer and holidays: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Summer weekends: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Pictured below is a scanned copy of the Monterey Bay Aquarium map.

Zoo Interpreter Interview

We have another great Zoo Tale to share with you today. Andrew King is a zoo photographer and worked as a zoo interpreter at the Seneca Park Zoo. Thanks to Andrew for sharing his adventures and zoo photography tips with us.

ZT: Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Andrew and I am originally from Western NY State. I lived there mostly all my life, but I moved down to Maryland a little over a year ago. I went to the University at Buffalo for theater performance. Although I loved my major and used my talents in some of my jobs, I needed something more stable. I got retail work, which lead to jobs in hospitality. Currently I am the head guest service agent at one of the top hotels in Hagerstown, MD. This has been a blessing when I plan zoo trips as I am offered very cheap rates when I stay at a hotel in our company’s chain.

ZT: Where did your love of zoo animals originate?

My earliest memory is being pushed around a stroller at a zoo. I am pretty sure it was a dream because I can remember seeing myself. It was like the start of a movie as I have a view high in the sky and then it zooms down my family walking on the side walk. I always loved animals when I was a kid. My uncle had a farm and I fell in love with cows. I planned to be a farmer until I was introduced to manatees. Then I wanted to be a marine biologist. I would get many toy animal play sets while growing up. I would go on field trips to the BuffaloZoo, Seneca Park Zoo, and Niagara Falls Aquarium. I would borrow my grandmother’s old Zoo books until I got my own subscription. I also had those animal binders. You’d get a pack of animal fact sheets each month. Going to zoos was an occasional activity. It was great to revisit the Buffalo Zoo when I went to college. I remembered the bear grottoes, Rocky Mountain sheep hill, and the smell of the gorilla exhibit. After I graduated I found a partner who was willing to put up with my animal/zoo obsession and we began to go to zoos in nearby cities. We continue to take zoo trips and we have many zoos left to see!

ZT: What zoo do you consider your "home" zoo?

That’s a bit of a tough question. I grew up mostly visiting Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY. However, I also went to the Buffalo Zoo. I also visited it weekly when I lived in the city of Buffalo for a couple years after college. Since I consider Buffalo still my home city, I would consider their zoo to be my home zoo.

ZT: How did you get involved in zoo photography? Do you do it just for fun or commercially for profit?

The funny thing is while growing up; family would not want me to take group photos for them. I would feel the pressure of having to take a great picture, but people would be off centered all the time. I am still not the greatest fan of taking photos of people. Animal and nature photography is more of my expertise. I guess it started in college. Despite being nervous taking posed photos, I enjoyed taking candid photos of friends at parties. I would always rush home afterwards and insist on uploading my photos on Facebook. It as if I want to freeze these memories in time.

Anyway, at the same time I started to visit the Buffalo Zoo again and I became obsessed taking good photos. They always had a photo contest, but I did not enter it until the year I moved back to Buffalo. During college I would see amazing close ups of animals and I always wished I had a camera that could do that. I had a point and shoot camera for awhile, but I have recently updated to a camera with a nice zoom. The first year I entered the contest I did not place at all. But I remember going to the ceremony and one of the judges encouraged us to constantly take photos, even if it was of grass, until we perfected our skills. So that year I took multiple photos and upgraded my camera. Nice captures started to happen more often. So a year later I place second place in the bird category. For the 2011 contest, I was a judge’s choice in the reptile category for my photo of a green crested basilisk.

I only take photos for fun. Going to zoos relax me. When I can forget everything and have my focus on capturing a certain moment, I feel at ease. I think I may have tried to sell my prints on websites like Red Bubble in the past, but I never got anyone to buy anything. I don’t mind being an amateur photography that does it for the pure joy of it.

ZT: Many readers ask me “how to work at a zoo” or “how do you become a volunteer at a zoo.” Are there any requirements to work at a zoo?

I found out about the position because my high school friend worked in the education department. I was going to apply for a similar position the year before, but another job came up. But this summer I was ready for the posting and she informed me about it. I believe my theater background helped me as you had to be entertaining when you did these demonstrations. Most of the times visitors probably don't even hear you because one of the animals is doing something cool. However, to be lively it helps them to actually listen. If I heard a bored person listing off facts, I would just tune them out. A love for animals helped as well. Two out of three of us had a theatrical background. The other one was majoring in animal science and took classes in public speaking.

ZT: Describe your work in the education department at the zoo jobs you worked for in the summer? What type of jobs in zoos did you do? Describe your daily activities.

I worked at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY during the summer if 2009. It was one of my most favorite jobs. I even went back the following summer and I helped out for a day. It was a blast to reconnect with former coworkers and animals My main job was being an interpreter for the daily animal demonstrations. The lead animal trainer in the education department came up with wonderful, short, informative scripts about the certain zoo animals. I did demonstrations for the North American river otter, white rhinoceros, African elephant, California sea lion, and the Arctic wolf. We also had a general enrichment demonstration we did on various animals depending on the day. The enrichment demonstrations I interpreted were for the meerkat, radiated tortoise, Amur tiger, olive baboon, and the North American river otter. We also did question and answer sessions during the feeding times of the American alligators and African black footed penguins. I was never a fan of the alligator Q & A’s, but I loved the penguin one. It was decided half way into the season we would go into the exhibit with the keepers and answer questions facing visitors. Before this we were just in the crowd and sometimes got lost. I also enjoyed this because I got go in their holding area beforehand and sometimes help insert pills (medicine) in the fish for the penguins.

The other part of my job was to assist with the stage show. We did a mini trip around the world showing various animal ambassadors from different continents. Animals featured were the Mallard duck, Harris hawk, sun conures, tawny owl, domesticated rat, bush baby, African gray parrot, serval, and the Virginia opossum. Although we traveled around the world, our repeated message was to emphasis to kids that they could discover the wonders of nature right there in their own backyards. The main animal trainer was responsible for actual contact and behaviors with the animals. We just helped narrate the script – sort of filled in the gaps leading into the next segment during times she had to get an animal from backstage. However, I did have contact with the Virginia opossums. They were sisters named Thelma and Louise. Louise was the one I always had and I loved her dearly, even if she drooled and farted on me. In between shows I would give them enrichment by taking them out of their cages and having them walk around. Behind the stage was a small hillside so it was perfect area to explore. I had to keep my eye on them as they sometimes tended to go in opposite directions! I would also help set up crates before shows, clean them afterwards, help cart animals to their final destination, and help set up the sound equipment. Having studied theater in college, this was a perfect job to display my skills and personality.

ZT: Of course I have to ask, what is your favorite zoo that you've been to and why?

I have not been to a lot of the major U.S. Zoos. The biggest one I have been to so far has turned out to be my favorite; the Columbus Zoo. It has a great animal collection, themed geographic sections, and is continuing to expand and improve. I loved seeing the manatees, okapis, Matschie’s tree kangaroos, koalas, and I loved the new polar bear exhibit.

ZT: The Columbus Zoo is my favorite as well. Thanks again to Andrew for sharing his Zoo Tale with us! Check out more of his zoo animals pictures here.

For more stories read our interview with another zoo photographer.

Freshwater Oasis Opening Date

Since Spring many readers have been asking the question, "What is the Discovery Cove Freshwater Oasis opening date?" Well, we can finally tell you that Freshwater Oasis is now officially open! Freshwater Oasis is included with admission to Discovery Cove, an all-inclusive tropical day resort where guests can swim with dolphins, snorkel with colorful fish and rays, hand-feed exotic birds and relax on pristine beaches, plus enjoy unlimited admission for 14 days to sister parks SeaWorld and Aquatica in Orlando. Yes, the attraction was originally supposed to open mid-spring/early summer but the good news it is now open and is worth the wait!

Now open at Discovery Cove in Orlando is Freshwater Oasis, an all-new attraction featuring wading adventures and face-to-face encounters with playful otters and curious marmosets.  Designed with a rainforest canopy above and sparkling-clear springs below, Freshwater Oasis is a natural fit within Discovery Cove’s tropical atmosphere. Guests can wade, wander, swim and float in the water-filled trails and discover marmoset monkeys and playful Asian otters. (Please note, you don't actually swim in the tank with the otters like you do the dolphins and sting rays, they are separated and you view them through a glass wall just like any other exhibit).

Where is Discovery Cove? Discovery Cove is part of Sea World resort in Orlando, Florida where you can swim with dolphins.

Columbus Zoo Stingray Bay Video

Stingray Bay at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is now open to the public. I recently visited the new attraction and took some video of the majestic stingrays doing their thing. You will see two types of rays at Stingray Bay: the smaller cownose stingray and the larger Southern stingrays. This 18,000 gallon saltwater tank allows guests to touch and feed stingrays. Timed tickets are given out if you want to come back later but in our case we were able to get in the building almost immediately after purchasing our tickets (and thoroughly washing our hands). A cup of food to feed the stingrays costs $2 (not sure if feeding is allowed only at certain times of the day or not).

Cownose stingrays are members of the eagle ray family and are found in the Atlantic Ocean. The cownose has a series of teeth and dental plates used for crushing oyster shells and clams. The cownose ray typically does have a stinger on the end of its tail with venom that cause bee sting like symptoms. Of course, this tails have been ground or clipped so as not to harm or hurt any of the visitors who wish to pet these magnificent creatures. So yes, they are safe to touch.

The southern stingray is also found in the Atlantic Ocean. Its flattened body is ideal for life on the bottom of the ocean. The ray’s spine contains a poisonous mucous which, though not fatal to humans, is extremely painful if you are unfortunate enough to step on one. The small openings on its head are called spiracles and they allow the ray to take in water while buried in the sea floor sand. Females often grow larger than males and can be up to 150 centimeters across!

Stingray Bay Tips - Best Way to Touch Stingrays 
 
As you can see in the video, the trick is to submerge your hand all the way in the hard and don't move it around. If you do this the stingray will come to you! If you try to reach out and pet them they will swim away quickly. This really works! 

Columbus Zoo Update: Safari Africa and Stingray Bay

Safari Africa expansion has been approved and Stingray Bay is now officially open.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s African safari expansion plans were officially approved by the zoo’s board last week. The 43-acre exhibit will be built at a cost of $30 million dollars and will be open in time for the summer season in 2014. An artist’s overhead rendering of the expansion was featured in the latest issue of the Beastly Banner, the zoo’s quarterly magazine for zoo members. It’ll be north of the polar bear exhibit and will be accessible through the northeast corner of the North America exhibit. They also mentioned  that a new trolley or other vehicle system will provide transportation to the area from inside the front gate to Safari Africa for those who need it (for the size of the zoo a transportation system of some sort is rally needed in my opinion but very expensive to maintain).

Safari Africa is a long time coming for fans of the Columbus Zoo. Plans for a similar exhibit were first announced back in the 1990s but was repeatedly delayed as other projects and regions were prioritized ahead of it.

We can finally accurately answer your question: Is sting ray bay open? Located in Jungle Jack’s Landing near Zoombezi Bay (the Columbus waterpark), Stingray Bay will feature an 18,000-gallon saltwater pool for dozens of cownose and southern stingrays to call home.

Please note, this attraction is not free and is not included within the regular zoo admission. The pricing structure is as follows:

Stingray Bay is as follows:

Non-member children and adults $3
Columbus Zoo member children and adults $2
Zoombezi Bay season pass holder $2
Gold membership holder Free
Ride wristband holder at $8 Free
Stingray feeding (one cup) $2

Visit my previous post to see some pictures of Stingray Bay at the Columbus Zoo.

Additional tags:

columbus ohio safari

safari columbus ohio

ZooAmerica 2012 Trip Report and Review

While visiting Hershey world (as some people like to call it) this past Memorial Day Weekend I had the opportunity to visit Hershey Zoo America, a North American Wildlife Park. This quaint little zoo is located in Hershey, Pa. right next door to HersheyPark amusement park. Zoo America pa  (also spelled Zooamerica) is home to animals found in North America, such as the river otter, bobcat, American alligator, etc. Visiting ZooAmerica is a great way to take a break from the vomit inducing rides and long hot lines at HersheyPark. Admission to the zoo is free with your ticket to HersheyPark or you can buy admission to the zoo separately. The park has many trees and is very well shaded throughout.

The mountain lions at the Hershey zoo where extremely active, more so than I have seen them at any other zoo in the country. In fact, one of the cats was being very vocal as well – something I had never heard before! Timber wolves and black bear are the other large mammals on display. One of the best exhibits at Hershey Park Zoo America is the prairie dog enclosure. The cute critters were very active and the exhibit allowed you to get pretty close to them too.

Zoo America Hershey Pa gets a lot of flak for having small and outdated enclosures, which I agree with, but I would rather the animals be kept there than at some exotic animal farm in Zanesville, Ohio or at the even more pathetic cages at Lagoon Park. On a sad note, this is the same Pennsylvania zoo where the two bison had to be euthanized due to rapidly rising flood waters back in September of 2011. As far as I could tell, the former bison exhibit sits on the bank of the creek and remains empty to this day.

Overall, ZooAmerica, the Hershey Pa zoo, is a nice little zoo and is a great place to visit if you’re at HersheyPark but I otherwise wouldn’t go too far out of my way to visit. I would rather go to the nearby ElkCountry to see wild herds of elk rather then see the three that ZooAmerica has in their little pen – but that’s just my opinion.

Pictured below is the ZooAmerica 2012 park map.

Columbus Zoo 2012 Stingray Bay Update

My wife and I visited the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium this morning to check out the status of several projects. First off, there is no visible sign of any construction or work being done on the new Safari Africa2014 expansion from INSIDE the zoo. That's not to say they aren't pushing dirt around or doing any other preliminary site preparation but if there is none of it was viewable from my vantage point inside the zoo.

Second, the new interactive touch pool exhibit for 2012, Stingray Bay, is not open yet. Signs posted near the new attraction state a "mid-June" opening. It looks like the queue line was the only unfinished aspect from the outside. This brand new enclosed salt water pool will allow Columbus Zoo visitors to touch and even feed the southern and cownose rays.

One disappointing observation: there is an additional fee to touch and feed the stingrays of $3 for non-members and $2 for zoo members, unless you have the highest level of zoo membership (Gold I think) or have a ride all day wristband.

Stingray Bay is located in Jungle Jack's Landing in-between the zoo and the Zoombezi Bay waterpark. Look closely at the Columbus Zoo 2012 map below to see exactly where Stingray Bay is. Does anyone know what was in that spot last year – was another building there or was it just an empty patch of land?

Speaking of Jungle Jack Hanna, he was at the zoo today! We were quite surprised, while observing the polar bears underwater, to look over and see Jack Hanna himself, dressed in his usual safari khakis. I believe he was in town filming a segment for Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild earlier this week at the Wilds in Zanesville, Ohio. What a nice guy, real down to earth. What you see is exactly what you get with Jack, just one of the many reasons why he is an easy guy to like.

 That's all for now. Hopefully on our next visit the exhibit will be open. Thanks for reading. Please feel free to leave a comment below to discuss.

UPDATE 6-18-12: Stingray Bay is now open!