At the Mystic Aquarium...

buy tickets membership volunteer donate Celebrate Walrus Awareness Week with Us! The conservation of species is a top priority at Mystic Aquarium. We work diligently to affect change in the populations of species at risk including African penguins, beluga whales, sharks, vaquitas, horseshoe crabs and others. We are proud to know that supporters like you join in our mission to conserve our ocean planet and that our fellow AZA colleagues work tirelessly in their efforts too! During Walrus Awareness Week, we will shine a spotlight on the walrus conservation efforts of SeaWorld. And, we'll  take a stroll down memory lane remembering when four walruses once called Mystic Aquarium their temporary home (check out our throwback photos from 2001 - 2002 below)! On Wednesday, December 6, you're invited to join us as we take the day to celebrate Walrus Awareness Week Join us in the Main Gallery for a live video feed from SeaWorld Orlando with our Curator of Marine Mammals and Birds, Laurie Macha. Watch as she joins Orlando's team of walrus trainers during one of their training sessions where you'll learn just how amazing it is to work with such a resilient species. Plus, enjoy other walrus activities in our Main Gallery where you can: Design your own walrus mask to wear. Play 'Pinniped Puzzles' and learn about the walrus' family. Experience how their blubber keeps them warm. Learn how belugas and walrus' are alike. Animal Spotlight: African Cichlids Native to Lake Malawi, one of the rift lakes of East Africa, our African cichlids are unique to this specific lake and can't be found anywhere else on Earth! Even more impressive, it's estimated that there are about 1,000 unique species of cichlids in that single lake alone. How is this possible?  One word: Evolution. The latest estimates believe Lake Malawi is between 3 - 20 million years old. This long lifespan along with its geologic isolation has allowed natural selection to create this large and diverse array of species along with specialized behaviors. You may even be able to spot one such behavior during your next visit! Take a close look at the cichlids mouths - you may see some mother's holding their babies inside, which is a natural instinct to protect their young from predators. 'Tis the season for holiday shopping! Whether you're the gifter who plans well ahead or is a spur-of-the-moment shopper, we have a couple of green tips to make your holiday shopping even more meaningful this year.  Consider shopping at stores that sell locally made toys and gifts. Of all toys purchased in the United States, 71% are made in China, where environmental laws are weak. Gift cards, concert tickets, restaurant certificates and movie vouchers are great alternatives to heavily packaged presents. Might we recommend a gift membership to Mystic Aquarium? Give a gift that lasts all year! Animal adventures, close encounters, hands-on discoveries, spectacular events and so much more - how do you fit all of this under the tree? With a membership to Mystic Aquarium! This holiday season; give the gift that gives back all year long with unlimited visits, free 4-D Theater shows, exclusive member-only perks, previews, parties and more. There is no better way to experience the Aquarium than as a member. Download our app! Mystic Aquarium now has an app! Get directions, find events, navigate our campus, learn about encounters and more. Click here to download the app to your phone now. Mystic Aquarium's Corporate Sponsors  The mission of Mystic Aquarium is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through conservation, education and research. www.MysticAquarium.org TAIL US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355

Poke the EPA in the eye with a sharp stick

Senate Republicans want to end EPA program that assesses chemical risks

Brian Bienkowski,  Environmental Health Network

The Senate Appropriations Committee on November 27 released a spending bill that would kill a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program that evaluates the potential health risks to people from chemicals found in the environment.

The bill, which lays out the Senate recommendations for the 2018 budgets of the Department of the Interior and multiple environmental agencies, would cut the EPA's budget by about $150 million and roll the chemical testing program—the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)—into the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

The IRIS program has been around since 1985 and its science on the toxicity of chemicals is used at state and local health agencies as well as internationally.

Trump's week 45 in review, and what a week it was!