Newborn Dragon Babies Emerged at Birch Aquarium
In a momentous event for marine conservation, Birch Aquarium, operated by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, has successfully hatched two rare Weedy Seadragons. This marks the first time the aquarium has achieved egg transfer, fertilization, and hatching in-house.
The Weedy Seadragons, native to southern Australia, have been off display since the beginning of the annual habitat deep-cleaning. However, their Leafy Seadragon counterparts are currently on view in Seadragons & Seahorses, Birch Aquarium's newest permanent exhibition, which is included with admission.
The hatching of these Weedy Seadragons follows the May 2019 opening of Seadragons & Seahorses. In 2013, Birch Aquarium made history by successfully hatching Weedy Seadragons for the first time after receiving a male Weedy Seadragon with fertilized eggs from Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Jennifer Nero Moffatt, the aquarium's senior director of animal care, science, and conservation, expressed her excitement about the achievement, stating, "This is a momentous event in our seahorse and seadragon breeding program."
The conservation status of Weedy Seadragons has been downgraded to "least concern" by the IUCN, International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Despite this, the species faces challenges such as climate change, warming oceans, compromised habitats, destructive fishing practices, and unsustainable collection practices in the wild.
Captive breeding programs, like that at Birch Aquarium, alleviate pressure on wild populations and contribute to Species Survival Plans (SSPs), as outlined by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Birch Aquarium has bred and successfully hatched two rare Weedy Seadragons, adding to their already impressive record of breeding thirteen different seahorse species since 1995.
More than 5,000 juvenile seahorses have been shared with other aquariums around the world, furthering the conservation efforts. The newly hatched Weedy Seadragons display camouflaging appendages in miniature, a testament to their unique and fascinating adaptation.
Admission to Birch Aquarium for adults is $19.50, and for children ages 3 to 17, it is $15. Annual memberships are also available. Despite the Weedy Seadragons being off display during the habitat deep-cleaning, visitors can still enjoy the Leafy Seadragons and the rest of the aquarium's exhibits.
As the aquarium continues its work in marine conservation, it is clear that the successful hatching of these Weedy Seadragons is a significant achievement. With continued efforts, Birch Aquarium is helping to secure the future of these remarkable creatures.
Read also:
- Essential Techniques for Successful Snack Food Business Branding
- Top-Notch Home and Expert Age Spot Remedies
- 'Starting today, registration for the Ayushman Bharat Scheme is available'; announced Delhi's Health Minister, Pankaj Kumar Singh
- Apparition's Significance and its Delivered Messages - as discussed by Sensenmann
