In 2002, an orphaned killer whale, Springer (A73), brought together scientists, government officials and concerned citizens in the first orca recovery effort of its kind. Seventeen years after Springer’s rescue and release, she continues to roam freely with her northern resident pod of killer whales and has two calves of her own. Now that Springer’s […]

Ecosystems and Biodiversity Cutlip minnows use their eye for colour to attract mates, according to researchers in Ontario. Males select the most colourful pebbles when building their nests on the river bed, relying on their sensitivity to orange (which is important in recognizing crustaceans, their main source of food). The researchers further noted that due […]

Tucked in the basement corner of the Vancouver Aquarium is a scary looking fish suspended in a mix of water and alcohol. This is a coelacanth (pronounced “seel-a-canth”) and, at 1.7 metres long and weighing 77 kilograms, it is one cool fish. Perry Poon, the props coordinator at the Vancouver Aquarium, points to the fleshy […]

For the Eco-Warrior: Abeego Beeswax Wraps –These adorable beeswax-dipped cloth wraps are a way more sustainable way to wrap up leftover turkey and stuffing. Titanium Spork – An unbreakable utensil for the truly hard-core. You know you’ll reuse this sucker; it can survive rust, salt water, or splashes of acid and chlorine. The Lint LUV-R […]

Marine Mammal Trainer Kristyn Plancarte is standing in the Aquarium’s newest exhibit space – the Research Outpost – with a cooler of clams, mussels and squid in hand. She asks Balzak to come out of the water and join her in the research space. Nearby in the procedure room, marine mammal trainers and veterinary technicians […]

Halloween can be a difficult time for those trying to leave less disposable plastic on the earth. At this time of the year, everything seems to be covered in single-use plastic, from bite-sized chocolate bars to throwaway dollar-store costumes. In the case of trick-or-treaters, disposable plastic pretty much has to cover any candy you give […]

Megan Strobel’s favourite animals show her roots. As a Florida girl, she grew up watching bottlenose dolphins from shore. As an undergraduate student at University of Florida, she worked on another favourite animal: manatees, Florida state’s marine mammal. “During the winter, wild manatees come into the springs for warm water. As part of the large […]

In the peak of the Antarctic summer, the icy ocean sometimes takes on pinkish-red hue. This unusual coloration is actually a layer of krill (Euphausia sp.), a tiny shrimp-like crustacean the size of your pinky. They gather in large numbers to feed on the phytoplankton blooms, which only occur during the Antarctic summer. At this […]