National Aquarium

Time to shellebrate! On October 2, our team released loggerhead sea turtles Sprite and Cerberus back to the ocean at Assateague State Park. Both sea turtles were rescued in Chesapeake Bay waters in Anne Arundel County, MD. Before release, both gained a healthy amount of weight, with Cerberus gaining 40% of their body weight and Sprite gaining 60%.

We asked staff to share the unique stories behind their nature-inspired ink! 🌿 Assistant Curator of Australia and Rain Forest Deb Dial tells us more about her nature-based sleeves: "Most of my tattoo sleeves were done at the shop Have Fun Be Lucky in Hampden, a favorite shop of National Aquarium employees! My tattoos pay homage to the things I love: art and nature. I didn’t begin to get tattoos until my late 20s, but once I landed on getting tattoos, the subject matter came easily. I have a variety of species represented in my tattoos, including native Baltimore species like the great blue heron and non-local species like bananaquits and sloths. For plant species, I have ferns and lilies—two of my favorites. I have been at the Aquarium for 18 years with most of that time spent in the Upland Tropical Rain Forest exhibit. My favorite part about working here is that we have created some amazing walk through habitats that invite our guests into an environment that's buzzing with natural behaviors." This is the fifth installment of our running tattoo series, inspired by the Seattle Aquarium social series of the same name! Be sure to check back for more ink-credible tattoos. 🖋️

Do you have a voting plan? Will you be voting early or on November 5? Are you voting by mail or at the polls? This International Day of Climate Action, consider how your vote can help protect our ocean planet and its diverse inhabitants. Early voting starts TODAY, so make sure you have a plan! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Yl8Tay "Photo captured under NOAA Permit #18786-04" (MM '21-'25)

It's National Marine Sanctuary Day! 🐟 Maryland's Mallows Bay, a designated national marine sanctuary, has an intriguing history. This 18-square-mile park is filled with the remains of over 100 wooden, flat-bottom steamships from World War I, making it the largest ship graveyard in the Western Hemisphere. Today, it is a wildlife oasis. Read more: https://bit.ly/3Y7BUGJ

Is Antarctica on your travel bucket list? Maybe Director of Dive Programs Holly Bourbon can convince you why it should be. 🐧 From diving over whalebones to swimming amongst lush kelp forests, the polar biodiversity and stunning views might make the 28° F water worth it. Learn about Holly's once-in-a-lifetime trip and be inspired for your next journey: https://bit.ly/4eyiWQA

Sawfish are more closely related to rays than sharks or fish, but like all rays, sharks and skates—collectively known as elasmobranchs—have skeletons made of cartilage. Just one look reveals their namesake characteristic: A long, tooth-lined rostrum or snout that might remind you of a saw. 🦈 Learn more this International Sawfish Day: https://bit.ly/4ex2Ir1

We're lucky to have some of the best vet techs who ensure our animals are as healthy as can be. 💙 Our vet techs help obtain blood samples, process bloodwork and administer medications, as well as capture radiographs while keeping our animals still and calm. Leave a comment showing appreciation for the vet techs in your life! 👏 #VetTechAppreciationWeek

#DYK puffins' beaks change color? During summer, their beaks are bright orange in order to attract a mate. Once they are mated, their beaks return to a dull orange for the winter months. 🐧 Learn about some of the other ways puffins change their appearance: https://bit.ly/4eySO7Z

Can you believe it's already time for Voyages: Chapter 6?! 🎉 If you've been wondering what our after-hours, adults-only event is like, now is the time to find out. Dan Deacon (@dandeacon), an innovative recording artist and performer, is both our featured artist and after-party headliner for this chapter. You won't believe how he and his team of musicians transform the Aquarium into an immersive soundscape! 🎶 Inspired by conversations with our featured scientist Fred Tutman (@paxriverkeepermd), Dan’s music will simulate the feedback loops found in nature for an interactive musical experience you don’t want to miss. 🐢 Voyages: Chapter 6 will be on November 21 from 6 to 11 p.m. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3TWKTJl

Aquaculture is agriculture that takes place in water. Just like how sustainable farming can offer restorative benefits to the land and soil, aquaculture can help filter our water and protect aquatic biodiversity. Learn more about aquaculture from Voyages: Chapter 2 scientist, Imani Black: https://bit.ly/3BhfeMu