Vancouver Aquarium facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium in 2013
Date opened	June 15, 1956
Location	845 Avison Way Vancouver, British Columbia V6G 3E2
Land area	2.1 acres (0.85 ha)
Coordinates	49°18′02″N 123°07′52″W / 49.300586°N 123.131053°W / 49.300586; -123.131053
No. of animals	65,000
Total volume of tanks	9,500,000 litres (2,100,000 imp gal; 2,500,000 US gal)
Memberships	AZA, CAZA, WAZA, AMMPA

The Vancouver Aquarium is a fantastic place to explore the ocean world. It is a public aquarium located in Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This amazing spot is not just a popular tourist attraction. It is also a hub for learning about the ocean, protecting marine life, and helping injured animals.

The Vancouver Aquarium was a pioneer in bringing experts, called naturalists, into its exhibits. These naturalists helped visitors understand animal behaviors. Before this, other zoos had occasional "open house" events. But the Vancouver Aquarium was the first to hire full-time educational naturalists. Its research projects help marine animals all over the world. This includes rescuing and caring for sick or injured marine mammals.

In 2010, Canadian leaders announced funding to help the aquarium grow. The province of British Columbia gave $10 million. The Canadian government added up to $5 million for upgrades. Even with this support, the aquarium remained a nonprofit organization. The City of Vancouver owns the land. It has rented it to the aquarium for $40,000 a year since 1991.

In 2009, the aquarium became a Coastal America Learning Center. This special title from the US Environmental Protection Agency helps Canada and the US work together. They protect and restore shared ocean resources.

The aquarium faced financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2020, it paused public visits to plan for its future. Then, in April 2021, a new agreement was made. Ownership transferred from the Ocean Wise Conservation Association to Herschend Family Entertainment. The aquarium happily reopened its doors to the public in August 2021.

Discovering the Aquarium's History

Orca statue, Chief of the Undersea World, in front of the aquarium, designed by Bill Reid

The idea for the Vancouver Aquarium started in 1950. Professors from the UBC formed an association. With help from important community members and funding from different levels of government, the aquarium opened. The grand opening was on June 15, 1956. A federal Minister of Fisheries, James Sinclair, cut the ribbon. His young daughter, Margaret, was also there. She later became the wife of a Canadian Prime Minister.

The Vancouver Aquarium was Canada's first public aquarium. It grew to become the largest in Canada. It is also one of the five largest in North America. The aquarium was one of the first in the world to care for and display an orca. It also housed other whales and dolphins, like belugas and dolphins.

In 1975, the Vancouver Aquarium received a special accreditation. It was the first aquarium to be recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). It is also accredited by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA). In 1987, the Canadian government named it Canada's Pacific National Aquarium.

A beluga whale named Qila was born at the aquarium in 1995. She was the first beluga conceived and born in a Canadian aquarium. Another calf, Tuvaq, was born in 2002. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly in 2005.

In 1996, a local rule was put in place. It stopped the Vancouver Aquarium from catching cetaceans (whales and dolphins) from the wild. They could only get cetaceans from other facilities. These animals had to be born in captivity, caught before 1996, or rescued and unable to return to the wild.

Canada Post even issued a special stamp in 2006. It celebrated the aquarium's 50th anniversary!

For many years, visitors loved the orca shows. The aquarium was home to several orcas over time. However, the last orca moved to another facility in 2001. Since then, the aquarium has focused on education and conservation. They highlight their research, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts.

The aquarium has also played a big part in studying wild orcas in British Columbia. Researchers like John Ford, who studies orca sounds, worked there. The Wild Killer Whale Adoption Program, which supports research, also started at the aquarium.

In 2007, there was a plan to expand the aquarium. The Vancouver Park Board approved the $100 million project. This expansion was funded by the aquarium, private donations, and grants. It aimed to make the aquarium bigger and extend its lease.

The Vancouver Aquarium has not kept any orcas since 2001. It has promised not to capture wild animals. Instead, it focuses on caring for animals born in captivity or rescued.

Temporary Closure and New Ownership

In August 2020, the aquarium announced a temporary closure. This was due to financial difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing rules meant fewer visitors. Ticket sales dropped significantly. The non-profit organization needed to find a way to be financially stable.

In April 2021, a new chapter began. The aquarium's ownership transferred from Ocean Wise to Herschend Family Entertainment. The aquarium then reopened to the public in August 2021.

Exploring the Aquarium Facility

The Vancouver Aquarium covers about 9,000 square meters (about 2.2 acres). It holds 9.5 million liters (about 2.5 million gallons) of water. This water is spread across 166 different aquatic displays. The aquarium has many unique galleries, built at different times.

Pacific Canada Pavilion

This is a large indoor exhibit right near the entrance. It features a 260,000-liter (about 68,000-gallon) tank. Here you can see fish and invertebrates from the Strait of Georgia.

Steller's Bay and Canada's Arctic

This gallery once housed beluga whales. Today, it is an active research station called Steller's Bay. It works with the University of British Columbia. This area is home to six Steller sea lions. You can also explore the Canada's Arctic portion. It displays arctic fish and invertebrates. A new "Research Outpost" opened in 2018. It teaches about research on walruses, northern fur seals, and Steller sea lions.

Penguin Point

This exhibit used to feature African penguins. It was inspired by Boulders Beach. The penguins were part of a special breeding program. Penguin Point was taken down in June 2023. This made way for a new habitat. The penguins moved to the West Edmonton Mall in 2023.

The Wild Coast

This is an outdoor area with several pools. It includes the Marine Mammal Rescue exhibit. Here you can see different pinnipeds. These include harbour seals, Steller's sea lions, and a California sea lion. Sea otters also live here permanently. There is even a "surge pool" where you can touch British Columbian invertebrates.

Treasures of the B.C. Coast

This gallery has many exhibits. They show the different water environments along the BC coast. You can find a giant pacific octopus here. There are also rockfish, sea stars, sea urchins, and anemones. In 2021, the Marine Rescue Exhibit opened. Visitors can meet special animals from the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.

Actinodiscus in an exhibit

Tropics Gallery

This gallery is full of colorful tropical fish and other animals. You might spot blacktip reef sharks. A green sea turtle named Schoona used to live here. Schoona moved to Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto in January 2023.

Amazon Rainforest

Step into the Amazon! This gallery is home to many creatures from the Amazon. You can see freshwater fish, snakes, caimans, sloths, and birds.

Frogs Forever? Gallery

This exhibit focuses on the challenges facing frogs worldwide. It shows how people can help protect frogs and other amphibians. You can see 26 different species of amphibians from all over the globe.

Canaccord Exploration Gallery

This gallery features jellies, fish, and other fascinating animals. It also has a 4D Theatre. Kids can enjoy "Clownfish Cove," a fun play area. There are also classrooms for school groups. These rooms have computers, tables, and even live animals for hands-on learning.

Aquarium Interpreters: Your Guides to the Ocean World

The Vancouver Aquarium was the first to have full-time paid interpreters. This program started in 1967. Today, it is known as one of the best teams in the world. These interpreters lead daily programs for visitors. They share amazing facts about sea lions, seals, sea otters, jellyfish, and many other species.

Amazing Animals at the Aquarium

Sea otters at the Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium is home to a huge variety of animals. It houses about 300 species of fish. There are almost 30,000 invertebrates. You can also find 56 species of amphibians and reptiles. Plus, there are around 60 mammals and birds.

The aquarium no longer houses cetaceans (whales and dolphins). This includes Pacific white-sided dolphins. Helen, a female Pacific white-sided dolphin, was the last cetacean here. She moved to SeaWorld San Antonio in April 2021. She passed away there in April 2022. Other dolphins like Laverne, Spinnaker, and Hana also lived at the aquarium in the past. They all passed away due to various illnesses.

The aquarium also used to care for a false killer whale named Chester. He was rescued as a young whale in 2014. Experts decided he could not return to the wild. Chester lived at the Wild Coast habitat with Helen. He passed away in November 2017 due to a bacterial infection.

Until 2016, the aquarium also housed two beluga whales. Qila was born at the aquarium. Aurora was rescued from the wild in 1990. Both Aurora and Qila passed away in November 2016. Other belugas, like Allua, Imaq, Grayson, and Qinu, are on breeding loans to other aquariums.

The aquarium also cared for two Pacific harbour porpoises, Daisy and Jack. Both were rescued and deemed unable to return to the wild. Daisy passed away in June 2017. Jack passed away in August 2016.

The aquarium is currently home to 8 sea otters:

• Katmai is a female sea otter. She was rescued as a pup in Alaska in 2012.
• Rialto is a male sea otter. He was found abandoned as a pup in Washington state.
• Mak is a male sea otter. He was rescued as a pup in Alaska in 2016.
• Kunik is a female sea otter. She was rescued as a pup in Alaska in 2016.
• Hardy is a male sea otter. He was rescued as a pup in British Columbia in 2017.
• Tazlina is a female sea otter. She was rescued as a tiny pup in Alaska in 2019.
• Joey is a male sea otter. He was rescued as a pup in British Columbia in 2020.
• Quatse is a female sea otter pup. She was rescued from Port Hardy in 2021.

The aquarium is also home to four harbour seals. These include two females and two males: Jessica Seal, Donnelly, DaVinci, and Hermes. Jessica Seal was rescued after being injured in 2019. Donnelly was rescued after being hit by a boat in 2021. She was deemed non-releasable due to her injuries.

Señor Cinco, a male California sea lion

The aquarium also houses six northern fur seals. Their names are Meechi, Tikva, Tuku, Kyoo, Aya, and Ani. There are also eleven Steller sea lions: Amak, Kenai, Willo, Ashby, Rogue, Bella Bella, Izzy, Hazy, Sitka, Boni, and Yasha. Some of these sea lions are part of a research program. This program studies why the Steller sea lion population in Alaska has declined. Bella Bella was rescued as a pup in 2017.

The aquarium also cares for an adult male California sea lion named Señor Cinco. He was found with gunshot wounds in 2017 and became blind. He is the first California sea lion on display at the aquarium.

Mammals at the Aquarium: Population and Status

Vancouver Aquarium Amazon Gallery: Amazing Animals

Vancouver Aquarium Amazon Gallery

Tambaqui

Hyacinth macaws

Yellow-headed amazon

Scarlet ibis

Brazilian rainbow boa

Yacare caiman

Red-footed tortoise

Goeldi's monkey

Frogs Forever? Gallery: Protecting Amphibians

Frogs Forever?

Phantasmal poison frogs mating

False tomato frog

Green and black poison dart frog

Oriental fire-bellied toad

Leucistic axolotls

Conservation and Research Programs

The Vancouver Aquarium has created many programs. These programs aim to understand and protect animal species in the wild.

Marine Mammal Rescue and Rehabilitation Program

The Vancouver Aquarium runs a Marine Mammal Rescue program. Its goal is to rescue and help marine mammals that are injured, sick, or abandoned. They care for these animals until they can return to their natural homes. Each year, the Rescue Centre helps about 100 distressed marine mammals. Most are harbour seals. But they also help sea otters, elephant seals, Steller sea lions, harbour porpoises, and common dolphins. This program famously helped Springer, an orphaned killer whale. She was successfully returned to her family pod. Other notable rescues include a beached grey whale in 2005. They also rescued Schoona, a lost green sea turtle. In 2013, a rescued harbour porpoise named Levi was the first cetacean to be rehabilitated and released back into the wild by the Centre.

Ocean Wise: Protecting Our Oceans

Ocean Wise started in 2005 as a program by the Vancouver Aquarium. It focused on promoting sustainable seafood. In 2017, the non-profit that ran the aquarium became the Ocean Wise Conservation Association. This group included both the aquarium and various conservation efforts. After the aquarium's ownership changed in 2021, these conservation programs are no longer part of the Vancouver Aquarium. They continue under the Ocean Wise Conservation Association.

B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network

The B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network is a team effort. It involves the Vancouver Aquarium and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. They collect reports and sightings of whales and sea turtles in the wild. Over 1,800 observers across British Columbia help with this. These include whale watching guides, lighthouse keepers, and many others. The program gathers reports through its website, a hotline, email, or special logbooks.

Ocean Wise Seafood: Making Smart Choices

Started in 2005, the Ocean Wise Seafood program encourages sustainable seafood choices. It works with restaurants, markets, and other food businesses. The program helps people avoid seafood that causes harm to ocean habitats or is overfished. Ocean Wise helps companies choose sustainable seafood. They also promote these choices to the public. You can spot the Ocean Wise symbol on menus and displays. This helps you make environmentally friendly seafood decisions. Today, hundreds of food businesses in Canada are part of this program.

Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup began in 1994. A small group of Vancouver Aquarium staff and volunteers started it. They wanted to join the International Coastal Cleanup. This is a yearly global effort to remove trash from beaches and waterways. It also aims to find out where the trash comes from. The goal is to change behaviors that cause marine debris.

Volunteers and sponsors collect and sort debris. This information is then analyzed. It helps understand the sources of garbage entering the ocean. For example, in 2007, over 52,000 volunteers cleaned many beach sites. They collected almost 87.5 metric tons of garbage.

Images for kids

• 

  Spinnaker does a high-jump during a dolphin show.

• 

  Beluga Aurora and her calf Nala, at approximately four weeks old.

• 

  Jack, a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) at the Vancouver Aquarium.

• 

  Schoona (green sea turtle) in 2016

See also

In Spanish: Acuario de Vancouver para niños