Oregon Zoo's Veterinary Medical Center Took First Place 

By Hova Najarian

Portland, OR - It was a big day for local animal lovers yesterday, as the Oregon Zoo received two high-profile honors in just around 10 hours.

In the morning, the zoo won the prestigious Portland Award at Travel Portland’s 33rd annual tourism and hospitality industry awards, held at the Oregon Convention Center.

Divers Will Get a Chance to Explore in the Halibut Flats Exhibit

By Cindy Hanson

Newport, OR - The Oregon Coast Aquarium is offering a unique opportunity for divers to participate in a new pilot guest dive program this summer. The first dive is scheduled Sunday, May 27, from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm. The program includes a chance to dive with Aquarium sharks and other fishes under the supervision of Aquarium dive guides. There will be more dives scheduled during the summer with dates and details available on the Aquarium website.

The Guest Dive Experience includes:

§ A dive in 26 foot deep Halibut Flats Exhibit surrounded by rockfish, halibut, skates and sturgeon

§ A dive to the observation ledge of the Open Sea exhibit with dozens of sharks, including Broadnose Sevengill sharks, that are up to 10 feet in length

Shedd Aquarium Guests “Dive” Into the Deep and Complicated World of Jellies

By Sheena Quinn

Chicago, IL - Shedd Aquarium announced today that its popular special exhibit, Jellies, sponsored by Walgreens, has been extended through 2013. Since launching the exhibit last spring, Shedd has welcomed over 1.1 million guests to the mysterious world of these rarely seen creatures that survive—and thrive—without bones, blood, or brains.

From the beautiful, translucent moon jellies to fascinating sea nettles, Jellies showcases over 10 species throughout this temporary special exhibit. Guests “dive” into the deep and complicated world of jellies, learning how their simple bodies have allowed them to survive for millions of years. Among the educational experiences, guests will learn how a jelly can devour enough food to double its weight each day, and how sea nettles hunt by trailing their long tentacles and frilly feeding arms covered with stinging cells that paralyze prey upon contact.

Tickets are Now on Sale for ZooFari—D.C.’s Foodie Event of the Year

By Devin Murphy

Washington, DC - The Smithsonian’s National Zoo feeds 400 species regularly, but on May 17 Friends of the National Zoo will host the human species at ZooFari, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Guests are invited on a culinary safari to sample gourmet fare from more than 100 of the D.C. area’s finest restaurants. The list of restaurants includes Citronelle, Marcel’s, Equinox, 1789 Restaurant and Graffiato. Fifteen vintners will be on hand to cleanse diners’ palates with glasses of wine between bites.

One highlight of the evening will be a zoo-themed cake decorating contest hosted by Top Chef finalists Mike Isabella and Spike Mendelsohn, and Equinox and Watershed owner, Todd Gray. Teams of pastry students from the Art Institute of Washington will compete for top honors from the judges. The winning team will be revealed on the Great Meadow at 9:15 p.m.

Every Tank Which Features One of the Fishy Characters has a Sign Next to It

By Drew Cunliffe

Tynemouth, UK - Tynemouth’s Blue Reef Aquarium is putting the spotlight on the real life heroes and heroines of the marine world as part of their ‘Star-Fish Weekend’ on May 5th -7th.

Visitors will be able to come face to face with living characters from films like ‘Finding Nemo’, ‘Shark Tale’ and ‘Little Mermaid’ and learn all about the true stories behind their fictional namesakes.

Special talks and a trail around the aquarium will help identify the real stars of the show.

Should Wal-Mart Clean Up Their Mess?

By Rudy Socha

Charleston, SC - Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the world who sells the products that become litter along our waterways and on our beaches. Wal-Mart stores themselves also directly contribute to the litter problem. Because of the number of customers and employees outside their stores everyday, Wal-Mart’s direct litter contribution can only be estimated to be in millions of pieces.

On a Wal-Mart lot you will find sewers that empty directly into rivers and creeks without grating to trap the waste and prevent it from entering the water stream. Off the Wal-Mart property, you will find single use plastic bags hanging in trees and shrubs and every type of ground litter imaginable. Since 90% of all Americans live within 15 miles of a Wal-Mart store, almost every American is negatively impacted by Wal-Mart generated litter.

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Name: Julie Packard

Actual title: Executive Director

Name of your aquarium: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Location: Monterey, California, USA

URL for your facility: www.montereybayaquarium.org

Number of species at your facility: 550

Your favorite critter at the facility: Ocean sunfish

Total number of animals or fish at your facility: 35,000

Number of visitors annually: 1.9 million

Number of employees: 404

Number of volunteers: 1,200

Annual budget: $58 million

Name: Patrick T. Mangus

Actual title: Executive Director

Name of your zoo: National Aviary

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

URL for your facility: www.aviary.org

Number of species at your facility: 200

Your favorite critter at the facility: African Penguins

Total number of animals or fish at your facility: 600

Number of visitors annually: 153,000

Number of employees: 45

Number of volunteers: 20

Annual budget: $4 million

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