After An Aquarium Visit, This Dad’s P*ssed

Photo credit: The Onion

Does the gentleman in this photo look happy to you?

Yeah, he’s not.

In fact, he’s pretty pissed about the lack of bang he got for his buck at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.

Before we go too far, let’s recognize that The Onion is a satirical website and this guy’s story is just made up. Lest also note that Mystic Aquarium does amazing work and we are big fans.

But they make a good point…

Back to the story: when Jeff Palmer decided to take his family (and shelled out the money to do so) to the aquarium, they were all excited to see the various species of marine life that they couldn’t view anywhere else.

What they got instead was a lecture on ecosystems and aquaria staff harping at them for tapping on a tank.

We aren’t saying that education isn’t an important factor in a zoo/aquarium visit. Not at all.

But what this story does point out (and why we chose to cover it) is how these facilities have had to completely repackage a visit to revolve solely around education.

Due to vocal animal extremists, zoos and aquariums have been forced to ignore this universal truth – learning is more impactful when it is fun. PERIOD.

Which teachers do you remember in your life? The stuffy profs? Or the animated and entertaining “cool teachers”?

This is ridiculous. Institutions accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA), including the Mystic Aquarium, are held to very high standards of animal care. They should boast about the education AND entertainment that they offer, instead of allowing extremists to alter their purpose.

Photo credit: www.marinobambinos.com 

Can we not allow children and families to visit parks, witness animals that they’ll never see in the wild, educate them about different species and also allow them to be entertained while they’re there?

The activist hype has gone too far. Zoos and aquariums must stand up for what they are – educational and entertainment facilities. They provide the world a service like no other organization and they should be proud.

Read more about Mr. Palmer’s “experience” on The Onion.