GA Aquarium update

[Guest guest]

We have made it home from Atlanta and here's my report on the GA

Aquarium.

 

Okay, let's get the non-vegan view out of the way as many as us have

visited places like this prior to our conversion. It is nothing

compared to the Aquarium of the Americas in pre-Katrina New Orleans

or Monterey Bay Aquarium in CA. These places offer much more in the

line of education and breath -taking views. My SIL said she felt the

same way about the Charleston Aquarium when it first opened but that

it improved significantly over five years and she expects GA to do

the same. She isn't vegetarian and is involved with Polo horses so I

have no idea what " improvement " means to her.

 

I was very surprised at the lack of educational information since the

opportunity was everywhere. I remember learning a lot at Monterey

Bay. In GA, there were only two places to stand and watch (as opposed

to moving along the wall of small tanks). These were the only two

places information was given freely. And, of course, there was not

full disclosure -for instance, the answers given about the size of

the beluga tank. (The announcers probably memorized a script and had

no real knowledge.) There were three other staff members manning the

touch tables but no Q & A or interactive education devices.

 

I am sick at the conditions the mammals endure in this place. I hated

to be there. But, I think it was a good experience for DH. He had a

horrible time and was very upset at the size of the whales' tank. He

didn't hear me here at the house but understood when we got there. If

you want an idea, go to images and put in beluga whales or

Georgia Aquarium. There is a photo of the tank. What you see is

everything. It is very small – 800,000 gallons and has no habitat

enrichment. The whales are hand fed very frequently. I'm sure it is

not good for business to put prey in the tank with the whales and let

them be themselves. But, plant life would be nice (belugas are both

benthic and pellagic and can swim in shallow water so a variety of

plants and animals could be used as could man-made toys).

 

DD was not at all interested in watching the belugas either. She knew

more about them than the announcer and I think she was distraught

about the tank. I made her a lapbook the week before we left. I

introduced the term prey to her and we talked about how the whales

move (breaching, skyhopping, etc.) and how they swim long distances

and sometimes dive when they hunt for their food. We talked

about " what hurts belugas. " This included animal hunters (polar bears

and orcas), pollution and man. We talked about pods and family

members (cow, bull, calf). I explained how the whales in tanks will

never see their mommies and babies again. She took one good look at

them and then turned her head (upset, not disinterested). She was

much more interested in the toy belugas in the gift shop (which you

must exit through to leave). Every time she opens her lapbook she

turns to the " what hurts whales " page and tells me over and over

about the content.

 

The other mammals were also in bad conditions. The penguins are from

the African coast. So there is a lot of fake rock and water in their

cage. That's it except for one baby toy on the bottom of the pool. It

may look similar to the coast but there obviously is a difference –

where was the other animal life and the ability to really swim? This

was true for the sea lions and the otters. DD loved all of these

mammals but I explained to her that the conditions were the same for

them.

 

If you don't already believe that this is nothing but a money making

venture – try to bring food or water into the building. None is

allowed. You must go through security like at an airport and empty

all your pockets and bags.**** They take all food – even that for a

toddler! They have a large cafeteria inside. We weren't about to eat

there and I knew ahead of time to hide food for DD. I did ask the

manager about vegan options. He said there is a book available which

lists all ingredients and he is happy to answer email when someone is

planning to visit. So, he was nice but I can't believe they took that

little boy's sandwich (he was in front of FIL). (I hid fruit leather

in my wallet which they took out but did not open. I stuck several

micro packages of raisins in the crevices of the stroller. In the

diaper bag cooler, I stored her soy milk in a BABY BOTTLE next to a

SIPPY CUP. I also had a very small container of cut pears and

veganrella in this bag but they didn't seem to mind – probably

because they didn't know I had as much food as I did. And maybe

because I tried to impress baby upon them.)

 

After this experience, I think DH will be much more careful about

checking out animal exhibitions before attending and maybe he'll

boycott them altogether like he does the circus. PETA wasn't there

and I didn't get to ask questions of the staff but DD got it anyway.

It really turned out to be educational in the vegan philosophy. The

only problem is that my FIL is convinced that " I " immensely enjoyed

the aquarium and had great fun because I took some pictures to put

in DD's lapbook under " What hurts whales? "

 

We are scheduling a tour of a rehab center in FL. I want DH and DD to

have a good example to compare to the aquarium.

 

Thanks for your help earlier,

Carrol

 

 

****Remember that there was a fatal bombing at the Atlanta Olympics.

Also, there have been several bomb threats at the aquarium. Of

course, FIL waited to tell us this as we were going through security.