We started today at a different location! Today I got to tour the National Aquarium’s Animal Care and Rescue Center (or the ACRC). The ACRC is a state of the art facility which is responsible for housing and treating any incoming animals, putting them through a quarantine process to ensure their health and that of other animals in an exhibit. The ACRC also treats any animals which have become injured or sick in their exhibit; which ids exactly what I got to observe today!
After a quick tour around the building and meeting some of the personable patients, such as Pecorino the Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle, I got to tag along while the staff headed to the aquarium’s main building to pick up a fish who had injured himself on a piece of decor. The fish was picked up and transported back, then he was swiftly given medication and placed in a nice tank for him to recover in!
The next thing in store at the ACRC was turtle exams! Some of the turtles being held in the building needed their general check ups, so I got to see how the process works, and some of the details and strategies vets use when dealing with specific species. I had never contemplated being a veterinarian before this, however it was definitely an intriguing process to watch and learn from!
Next on the docket for today was sadly my last dive at the aquarium. I got to join a group of the aquariums volunteers to dive in the Blacktip reef Exhibit and help with scrubbing the rock and coral decor. Scrubbing the exhibit is important because a biofilm can form on the material, as well as a buildup of miscellaneous debris. Prior to the dive the entire team was given a safety briefing, discussing any possible hazards during the dive and more, and then we were off!
During the dive we focused on a specific area while cleaning, and it was fun to find pieces of decor that the fish called home! We cleaning for about an hour, using a set of brushes on specific parts of the exhibit, and enjoying the company of the sharks that would swim by and the onlookers through the aquarium windows.
Thank you again to Holly for taking such cool photos! Diving in these exhibits has been amazing.