Penguins and sea otters rescued from hurricane settling in at Monterey Bay Aquarium
Modified Monterey Bay Aquarium press release
September 23, 2005
 Penguins from the New Orleans Aquarium of the Americas at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Credits: Monterey Bay Aquarium |
The 19 penguins and two sea otters rescued from the New Orleans Aquarium of the Americas are currently behind the scenes during their quarantine period. The penguins are being housed in a former dive locker, now called the “Penguin Hospitality Suite.” We hope to put some or all of them on exhibit in the near future with our penguin colony in “Splash Zone.” It will be a family reunion of sorts, as several of the birds in the two colonies are related.
Aquarium veterinarian Dr. Mike Murray examined sea otters Buck and Emma on Thursday, Sept. 15, and pronounced them in good health. Buck, a male, weighs 55 pounds and is 50 inches in length. Emma, a female, is 45 pounds and 47 inches.
We are keeping Buck and Emma in a large holding pool near the top of the Kelp Forest exhibit. As is the usual procedure with sea otters brought into the care of staff with our Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program, Buck and Emma will be in quarantine for at least 30 days. During that time, Dr. Murray and sea otter aquarists will discuss options for the two new animals, including whether or not to put them on public display.
The 16 African blackfooted and three rockhopper penguins appear to be in good health, but will be under quarantine for at least two weeks. Dr. Murray and staff are keeping a watchful eye on the new colony, as the humid, poorly-ventilated conditions they experienced in New Orleans can lead to fungal infections, which can be fatal to penguins.
The 19 penguins are being housed in a former dive locker, now called the “Penguin Hospitality Suite.” We hope to put some or all of them on exhibit in the near future with our penguin colony in “Splash Zone.” It will be a family reunion of sorts, as several of the birds in the two colonies are related.
Here are the names of the new penguins: Rocky, Bunny and Dennis (rockhopper penguins); Voodoo, Satchmo, Patience, Amquel, Ernie, Dobie, Evinrude, Fanny, Garth, Huey, Kohl, Maynard, Snapper, Quatloo, Snake and Zelda (blackfooted penguins).
This is a modified press release from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. For more information, including video of the New Orleans penguins and sea otters please visit www.mbayaq.org.
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Two sea otters and 19 penguins from the New Orleans Aquarium have been sent to Monterey Bay Aquarium. The aquarium will start providing updates on the animals once they have been stabilized. There are currently no plans to place them on exhibit at Monterey Bay.
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Surviving animals from New Orleans aquarium to be sent elsewhere – 9-September-2005
Surviving animals from the New Orleans will find new homes according to aquarium spokeswoman Melissa Lee. Despite escaping Hurricane Katrina with little physical damage, the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans suffered significant loss of animal life when the facility’s emergency generator failed and made conditions unlivable for most its animals.
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