157 replies to this topic

[Lady Celeste]

The Georgia Aquarium has welcomed two new arrivals. Alice and Trixie have joined Ralph and Norton at the Georgia Aquarium. There are now four whale sharks swiming freely. Looks like it's time to revisit the aquarium. Which by the way is well on it's way to reaching 3,000,000 visitors in it's first year.

Quote

Georgia's population of whale sharks — the largest fish on earth — doubled late Saturday night.


The Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta, the only fish tank outside Asia to exhibit the huge, polka-dotted sharks, welcomed two more of the gentle giants after an 8,000-mile flight from Taiwan aboard a specially configured United Parcel Service Boeing 747.

The two young female whale sharks, Alice and Trixie, joined male whale sharks Ralph and Norton, who were brought to the aquarium about a year ago. All of sharks are named after characters in the 1950s television sitcom "The Honeymooners."

Alice is 11 feet long, and Trixie is 14 feet in length. They could grow to more than 40 feet.

Read more here:

Georgia Aquarium Welcomes Alice and Trixie

[chasedodge]

Lady Celeste, on Jun 4 2006, 12:44 PM, said:

The Georgia Aquarium has welcomed two new arrivals. Alice and Trixie have joined Ralph and Norton at the Georgia Aquarium. There are now four whale sharks swiming freely. Looks like it's time to revisit the aquarium. Which by the way is well on it's way to reaching 3,000,000 visitors in it's first year.
Read more here:

U\UcTYWYWZV&urcm=y]Georgia Aquarium Welcomes Alice and Trixie

Well that's good to hear. I am going to the aquarium for the first time on June 17th(my sister's birthday), so I guess it is a good thing I haven't been yet, since I will be one of the first to see the new whale sharks.  

[AubieTurtle]

One of the interesting things about living near the aquarium is that I get to know something big is up before it hits the papers.  They normally deliver large animals like these at 2 or 3 in the morning and don't inform anyone.  The road is just suddenly blocked as very slow moving trucks creep on in.  All the real action happens on the loading docks, so you can't see that part.

I thought about getting a ticket for today to see all four whale sharks swimming around but my air conditioner is not working so I've spent today trying to figure out what's wrong with it.  

[Topped Out]

Wow, that's incredible news about two new sharks at the GA Aquarium.  I was at the aquarium about a month ago for a company meeting in the ballroom (a very nice facility, by the way).  You can watch the beluga whales from the non-crowed side of the tank and the main tank with the whale sharks is visible as well.

The two whale sharks they had when I visited I thought were quite impressive and I was informed that they are not yet full grown.  I wonder if these two new whale sharks are about the same size as the two already swimming around in the aquarium.

[chasedodge]

Topped Out, on Jun 5 2006, 12:42 PM, said:

The two whale sharks they had when I visited I thought were quite impressive and I was informed that they are not yet full grown.  I wonder if these two new whale sharks are about the same size as the two already swimming around in the aquarium.

The new female sharks are 11 and 14 feet, where I saw somewhere that the male sharks are now 18 feet after being transported to Atlanta at similar lengths as the new female sharks are.

[SkyDave]

It's amazing how popular the Aquarium has become. It is definaitely on my agenda to visit the next time I'm in Atlanta.

[ironchapman]

I just went to the Georgia Aquarium today.

Let me just say I was very impressed by what I saw. So many beautiful exhibits! The whale sharks (as well as their HUGE habitat) and belugas were definitely the best exhibits, but there were somany other great exhibits. I particularly enjoyed the tropical section (probably because I have an aquarium of tropical fish at home), the otters, and the penguins (for some reason, I love those little birds).

Definitely worth the visit.

[Lady Celeste]

Well, the Georgia Aquarium has done it. This week the newly opened facility expects to greet is 3,000,000th visitor. Such a great milestone since the last time an attraction has done this, it was the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago on it's opening year.

To read about this exciting milestone, visit here:

Georgia Aquarium lands big numbers

From the article:

Quote

Aquarium officials initially projected the first year's attendance at 2.1 million, but that figure was breached after just 6 months of operation as visitors packed the ship-shaped facility in downtown Atlanta to gaze at its 100,000-plus critters, including beluga whales, sea otters and the only whale sharks outside Asia.

"I think for the first 12 months, we'll probably be around 3.5 million visitors," said Jeff Swanagan, the aquarium's executive director.

For comparison, the Atlanta Braves had an attendance of 2.52 million people last year, up about 200,000 people from the previous year.

Also of interest:

Quote

Consultants initially gave aquarium officials a "low-ball" figure of 1.8 million visitors for the first 12 months and a high estimate of 2.4 million, Swanagan said. The facility, however, generated a mountain of publicity and was featured on CNN, ABC, Fox and NBC's "Today" show. Major newspapers have featured it on their travel pages. Reader's Digest named it to the "America's 100 Best" list, dubbing it the nation's "Best Ocean Voyage."

The crowds became so large the aquarium had to extend its operating hours, increase hiring and implement procedures to limit the number of visitors inside the building to about 4,000 at any one time. They have already begun replacing the carpet, worn thin well before its time.

It's great to see this attraction flourish. As many other attractions are added, the downtown area; along with it's growing residential population, will be abuzz with people.

[DruidCity]

Although I'm putting off going there until the crowds back off a little, I look forward to seeing it.
Hopefully, Atlanta will add even more attractions of this caliber.

[Lady Celeste]

I don't know if this has been posted elsewhere in the Atlanta forum but the world's largest aquarium is about to get larger.

According to an article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the aquarium will be increased by 30,000 square feet. This is a much needed addition. Even more important in the article is the statement that the Oceans ballroom will now have a Allen Boulevard entrance. This should alleviate some on concern that the World of Coca~Cola and the Georgia Aquarium turned their backs to the boulevard. This will definitely help keep the urban momentum going in that part of town.

To read the full story, visit here:

World's largest aquarium to get even bigger


Some facts:

Quote

The Georgia Aquarium, which opened opened Nov. 23, 2005, originally predicted it would get 2.4 million visitors during its first year. It had its 1 millionth guest in its first 98 days and recorded its 3 millionth visitor on Aug. 23.

The Georgia Aquarium has had the most visitors of any U.S. aquarium since the Shedd Aquarium opened during the World's Fair in Chicago 75 years ago.

The Georgia Aquarium has more than 8 million gallons of marine and fresh water and 120,000 animals of 500 different species.

[ironchapman]

Has anybody been keeping track of our sick beluga whale?

[ironchapman]

ironchapman, on Oct 26 2006, 09:12 PM, said:

Has anybody been keeping track of our sick beluga whale?

Just learned some sad news today:

Gasper the Whale Has Died

Quote

Gasper, the beloved beluga whale who became a star of the Georgia Aquarium, was euthanized this morning after months of declining health.

The ghost-white whale, who had fought a deadly bone disease for months, had stopped eating on his own several weeks ago and aquarium officials said at the time his chances of survival were slim.

May he rest in peace.

[krazeeboi]

Poor thing. I'm glad I got a chance to see him.

[ironchapman]

krazeeboi, on Jan 2 2007, 07:37 PM, said:

Poor thing. I'm glad I got a chance to see him.

Yeah, same here.

I wonder, just out of curiousity, if we'll try and find another beluga whale (though there probably aren't many availiable).

[ironchapman]

A bit of news for you aquarium fans out there: the aquarium will have two new members joining its family!

Taiwan approves export of 2 whale sharks

Quote

Two more whale sharks are coming to the Georgia Aquarium, most likely in June.

Representatives of Taiwan's Fisheries Agency announced Thursday that the department had approved exporting the male whale sharks, caught in March in the Philippine Sea.

I look forward to their arrival. I'll have to go see them when they come. I hope they remain healthy, not just while we are waiting for their arrival, but also while they are here at the GA Aquarium (remember what happened to Ralph?).

So, what do you think their names should be? (Get your creative juices flowing.....)

[ironchapman]

Well, a little more sad news. I'm sure most of you are aware by now, but Ralph's buddy, Norton, has also passed. May he rest in peace.

[Andrea]

ironchapman, on Jun 15 2007, 11:37 AM, said:

Well, a little more sad news. I'm sure most of you are aware by now, but Ralph's buddy, Norton, has also passed. May he rest in peace.

I think they should let the fish go.  They weren't made to swim around for our viewing pleasure in concrete tanks built next to an interstate highway.  There's no natural river, lake or seashore for miles around.

[Lady Celeste]

Happy Fifth Birthday to the Georgia Aquarium.

It seems like these past five years have gone by so quicky. I remembered when it first opened. Through all of the kinks in the beginning, the Georgia Aquarium has turned into a very successful research facility as well as a tourist magnet. Currently the center is in the midst of a $110 million expansion that will house the new dolphin exhibit opening in 2011. Since it's opening five years ago, it has welcomed a little more than 13,000,000 guest. That's an average of a whopping 2.6 million guest a year. It has had a $1 billion economic impact on Atlanta and Georgia. With new exhibits being introduced what seems to be annually, there is always another reason to go.

Big congratulations to the Georgia Aquarium and Happy Fifth Birthday!