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Friday, June 16, 2017

Today is World Turtle Day



WORLD SEA TURTLE DAY
JUNE 16, 2017

Charlotte

Did you know that sea turtles are one of the world's most ancient creatures?  They have been around since the dinosaurs, approximately 110 million years. Their shell, or "carapace," is streamlined for swimming and unlike other turtles, sea turtles cannot retract their legs and head into their shells. Depending on the species, their color varies between yellow, greenish and black.

Dr. Allison Tuttle, Vice President of Biological Programs at Mystic Aquarium, tells us that "sea turtles are a group of animals that could be heavily affected by global climate change.  Because the sex of sea turtles is determined by the temperature at which their eggs incubate, warming trends could affect single sex populations; posing yet another
strike against these amazing animals. Currently sea turtles face a number of threats including poaching (adults and eggs), habitat loss, marine debris (especially plastics), as well as fisheries and human interaction.  Six of the seven marine turtle species are classified as threatened with extinction by the IUCN List of Threatened Species."   

Evidence of human interaction can be found right here at Mystic Aquarium.  Come visit and meet Charlotte, Mystic Aquarium's resident green sea turtle, and find out about his journey. "Charlotte is actually a male so I now call him Charlie.  He is at the Aquarium because he was struck by a boat, and as a result is now a floater, which means he is unable to dive properly. Charlie would not survive in the ocean and was declared non-releasable" says Dr. Tuttle. 

Do you tail us on social media?
Talk turtles with Aquarist Steph Shannon June 16 at 8:30am on Facebook Live. 


Sea Lion Show 
There's a New Sea Lion Show 

Also, follow us on Snapchat@Mystic_Aquarium June 19, for a first person perspective of the new California Sea Lion Show


Swedish fishWhat's your sea animal personality?  
    
Ever wonder what kind of Mystic  Aquarium animal you would be? Take this personality quiz  to find out!  And, be entered to win a family 4-pack of tickets to Mystic Aquarium, courtesy of Swedish Fish!


You can help


Re-use paper and cloth bags 
   
When shopping, each American uses an average of 350 plastic bags per year. Many of these bags end up in streams, rivers and oceans, killing as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures each year.  Here are a few tips to stop the plastic bag habit:
  • Opt for paper over plastic.
  • Re-use paper or plastic shopping bags, including the bags used for fruits and veggies.
  • Bring your own reusable grocery bags when shopping.
  • Don't limit reusable bag use to the grocery store; grab fashionable reusable bags for your trip to the mall.
  • Find a local plastic shopping bag recycling program to dispose of unwanted plastic bags.
  • Re-use paper or cloth grocery bags when shopping, and utilize shopping bag recycling programs to dispose of unwanted plastic bags.
Fun and affordable reusable bags are available at the Aquarium store! 



Membership: Sea Change 
Unlimited visits are great. Free 4-D is quite a perk. Clean oceans are life-giving. The benefits of a Mystic Aquarium membership are far-reaching.  We seek change through conservation, education and research. You sea change with your membership.
Click here to join now!    


As always, we invite  you to SEA More every day at Mystic Aquarium! 
Be sure to check out all the great events we have planned!

learn more


SLE rails to whales

Mystic Aquarium's Corporate Sponsors 
Corporate Sponsors



The mission of Mystic Aquarium is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through conservation, education and research.



Mystic Aquarium  | 55 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT  | 860.572.5955
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