VANCOUVER AQUARIUM

VANCOUVER BC AQUARIUM
The Vancouver Aquarium is the largest aquarium in Canada at approximately 9000 m² and is one of the five largest in North America. The Vancouver Aquarium and animals are situated in Stanley Park and has been open to the public for fifty years enabling visitors to Vancouver and locals to come and see some wonderful animals. The Vancouver aquarium is home to an array of different west coast marine life, special exhibits and displays. There are about 166 aquatic displays held in over 2.5 million gallons of water.

We had a great time at the Vancouver Aquarium. We actually visited it whilst it was raining and loved it. The outdoor water tanks are home to the fantastic white Beluga Whales and we watched their show whilst eating lunch in the eating area right next to them. There is the usual type of food available from burgers, hotdogs, sandwiches and ice-creams. The Beluga Whales can also be seen from the observation tank underground which is great as you can see how they move around under the water. The outdoor tanks are also home to the two sea lions, one being a huge adult, the other a smaller pup. You can also see the dolphins who put on a great show. The other animals outside are the cute sea otters, which were a joy to watch. The show times are listed just inside the building so you can plan what you would like to see and when. We then moved indoors where we saw among other things sharks, alligator lizards, snakes, giant fish and we then walked through an Amazon rain forest.

The Vancouver aquarium is also a center for marine research, conservation and marine animal rehabilitation. The aquarium research projects extend worldwide, and are internationally recognized for marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation. The Aquarium has been rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing injured marine mammals for over forty years. The Marine Mammal Rescue Center has treated more than two thousand otters, dolphins, sea lions, seals, elephant seals, porpoises, and whales. Several of the more high profile success stories include Springer, who was a rescued orphaned killer whale that was later released and reunited with her family pod. There was also the rescue of Schoona, a lost green sea turtle found near Prince Rupert, BC. In 2005 they successfully returned a gray beached whale to the Ocean.

The Vancouver Aquarium was the first aquarium accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association in 1975. The Aquarium is also accredited by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In 1987 it was designated Canada's Pacific National Aquarium by the Canadian Federal Government.

The operation of the Vancouver aquarium receives no government funding. The aquarium is run by a self-supporting, not-for-profit association. The property is owned by the City of Vancouver and managed by the City Parks Board.

The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre admission price is as follows; for Adults $17.50/ Seniors& Youths(13-18)&Students $12.95/Children(4-12) $ 9.95/ Children 3 years & under Free.

To find out more about the Vancouver Aquarium and to discover more about what animals are found at the Vancouver Aquarium, please view the Vancouver Aquarium site here.