The Georgia Aquarium – Dedicated to Conservation
When you think of the Georgia Aquarium, the first thing that comes to mind is probably whale sharks.
You may even think of the beluga whales or dolphin show. Each of these animals are incredible and definitely worth noting, but there is also a lot of work involving their wild counterparts that not everyone is aware of.
Located in Atlanta, the aquarium itself is landlocked. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t doing anything for the natural world!
Research projects in the field range from the Florida Keys to Alaska and the Georgia Aquarium is also home to rescued southern sea otters and loggerhead sea turtles.
One of the field research projects is on whale sharks in Mexico. This project aims to observe roughly how many whale sharks come to the Yucatan Peninsula, what they eat, and where they go when they leave.
Here at the aquarium, the four whale sharks are observed in terms of health, behavior, genetics and growth compared to their wild counterparts in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Georgia Aquarium’s marine mammal research includes checking beluga blubber and blood values in Alaska to check for pollution exposure.
They are also part of a multi-facility longterm project conducting health assessments on dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon. The Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station (GACFS) is located across from the Marineland Dolphin Adventure facility in St. Augustine, FL.
The aquarium handles rescue and rehabilitation of dolphins, small whales and other animals that need help. They are also partnered with scientists from Woods Hole to monitor right whale populations off the Georgia coast.
The Georgia Aquarium is partnered with SANCCOB to study free range African penguins in Namibia and conduct health assessments. Along with a partnership with the Caretta Research Project and Fish and Wildlife Service, sea turtle nests are being monitored to observe both the adult’s and offspring’s needs and help better protect them.
Spotted eagle rays in Sarasota, Florida are being monitored in terms of population size and movement. The Georgia Aquarium wants to bring more awareness for these misunderstood rays.
One of the biggest issues in ocean habitat concerns are coral reefs. More often they are falling ill and deteriorating, often from pollution. The Georgia Aquarium is working on coral transplantation and has also figured out how to create a man-made, self-sustaining reef in the aquarium itself.
The level of commitment the aquarium has to animals both in its care and in the wild is astounding. For more information on Georgia Aquarium’s research and conservation efforts, click here!
