Texas State Aquarium

This weekend, the Texas State Aquarium proudly celebrated our 34th anniversary! On July 6, 1990, we officially opened our doors to the public. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our guests, staff, members, donors, and followers who have made our mission of education, inspiration, and conservation possible over the past 34 years. We are especially grateful to the Junior League of Corpus Christi, the local Jaycees, and Leadership Corpus Christi Alumni (LCCA) for their vision starting in 1969 to build the local Aquarium. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in our journey, and we couldn't have come this far without you. Thank you for being a part of our history.

We are grateful to have been hosted by Hance Scarborough, LLP at the Texas State Society's Breakfast Club again in Washington, D.C. We appreciated the opportunity to discuss our mission and the initiatives taking place at our Port Corpus Christi Center for Wildlife Rescue at the Texas State Aquarium.

Did you catch us on The Weather Channel over the weekend? Just a couple of weeks ago, during Tropical Storm Alberto, while we were moving staff back and forth due to flooded roads on North Beach to take care of the animals, we met Molly McCollum and her crew from The Weather Channel. Fast forward two weeks, and we reconnected to talk about preparations and lessons learned during Alberto. It was broadcasted live at a national level, providing a great opportunity to share our experiences, spotlight our Wildlife Response Operations, and emphasize the importance of being prepared. 🌧️🐠 Shout out to The Weather Channel! Keep up the great coverage to keep Texas informed.

⚠️ Important Announcement ⚠️ Due to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Beryl around the Coastal Bend, the Texas State Aquarium will be closed on Sunday, July 7, and Monday, July 8, 2024. Our staff at the Aquarium and the Wildlife Rescue Center are diligently preparing for the storm's arrival. Current preparations include deploying flood control devices and relocating outdoor animals for their safety. Additionally, the Aquarium’s Wildlife Response Operation Center (WROC) will be on standby to respond to any wildlife affected by the storm. We hope you all are taking the necessary precautions to stay safe during the storm. Stay strong, South Texas—we got this! 💪 #TexasStrong

🦈 Shark Week is almost here, and the Texas State Aquarium has the largest screen to watch the show! We are excited to welcome Associate Research Scientist Dr. Kesley Banks from the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as a host for our 'Let's Talk Sharks' presentation at the Texas State Aquarium on Friday, July 12th, at 11:30 a.m. Don’t miss this special event, where Dr. Banks will deliver a packed-to-the-gills educational experience for visitors at the Aquarium’s Caribbean Sea Exhibit. #SharkWeek #CorpusChristiTX

🦈 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are crucial in protecting wildlife and educating the public. In 2022, they invested $300M in conservation efforts and boosted local economies by $24B.   The Texas State Aquarium first earned AZA accreditation in 1995 and has maintained it ever since. Achieving this status involves a thorough review to ensure compliance with AZA's high standards in animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. To remain accredited, zoos and aquariums must successfully complete this rigorous process every five years.   As a proud Texan by Nature Conservation Partner and AZA accredited aquarium, we are committed to advancing conservation efforts.

We are deeply grateful to Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers in Portland, TX for selecting the Texas State Aquarium as their nonprofit community partner and for including us in this special ribbon-cutting ceremony. Their generous support helps further advance our wildlife conservation mission, not only in our local community, but throughout all of Texas. We are also extremely thankful for the generous donation from Raising Cane's Portland today. This contribution will significantly bolster our efforts to protect and preserve our state's diverse wildlife. We look forward to a continued partnership with Raising Cane’s and wish them great success with their new location.

✨🐢Happy #worldseaturtleday Day!🐢✨We can’t celebrate this important date without expressing our profound gratitude for the tireless efforts that drive the success of our Wildlife Rescue program. One of our key partners, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC), plays a pivotal role in our wildlife rescue operations. During events like January’s sea turtle cold stunning incident, TAMU-CC’s Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence and Innovation utilized drones to help us locate injured animals and monitor endangered sea turtles that might have been affected by the water temperature. This tracking technology isn’t just vital during recovery efforts; it holds promise for assisting conservation efforts in future endeavors.

United for Wildlife: Gearing Up for Hurricane Season! 🐢 🌪️ The Texas State Aquarium's Wildlife Response Operations Center (WROC) is geared up to protect South Texas coastal wildlife during this active hurricane season. 🌊🐢 Our WROC team collaborates with top agencies like Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas General Land Office, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and Port Corpus Christi to ensure a robust and coordinated response to natural and manmade disasters, from hurricanes to hazardous spills. The WROC serves not only as an emergency response hub but also as a location to plan for wildlife response before disaster strikes. Housed at the Aquarium’s Center for Wildlife Rescue, the WROC provides a fortified resource to monitor and help manage wildlife emergency response activities in South Texas and along the Texas Gulf Coast. The facility is designed to withstand 150+ mph winds, support full emergency and backup power systems, and contains a robust infrastructure ensuring communication connectivity. It takes a village to protect our coastal wildlife, and we couldn't do it without the support of our partners. Together, we are stronger and more resilient in the face of any disaster. Stay safe and follow us for updates on how we're preparing to protect our coastal ecosystems. 🌿 Learn more https://lnkd.in/gXt9Vf_i #HurricanePreparedness #WildlifeRescue #CorpusChristi #GulfCoast #WROC #EmergencyResponse #WildlifeProtection #Texas #hurrinaneseason #tropicalstorms

We greatly value our long-standing partnership with Port Corpus Christi. Among all our supporters, their generous contributions have been instrumental in enabling the Texas State Aquarium Wildlife Rescue Program to continue rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing a diverse array of Texas wildlife. Our Port Corpus Christi Center for Wildlife Rescue at the Texas State Aquarium is the largest wildlife rescue facility in Texas and is proud to house the state's only wildlife CT scan machine. This state-of-the-art facility offers comprehensive care, from emergency surgeries to routine checkups. We invite guests to visit the Center for Wildlife Rescue Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to witness firsthand the incredible work we do, including the 24/7 care provided to our sea turtle patients. Your visit supports our efforts to save Texas wildlife. #wildliferescue #texaswildlife #corpuschristitx