Scales and Tails at the Aquarium

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher will kick off the “Year of the Frog” with a three-day celebration of our amphibian and reptile neighbors. From Friday, Feb. 29 to Sunday, March 2, visitors will have an opportunity to see, touch and learn about our cold-blooded neighbors.

Aquarium staff and invited experts will introduce the public to dozens of live amphibians and reptiles, including alligators, snakes, iguanas, monitor lizards and a blind Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle named Lenny. In addition to the live animal presentations, there will be special guests and presentations that include a workshop on frog calls by Jeff Hall and Mike Campbell of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC); a lecture on the importance of sea turtle conservation by Jean Beasley, Director of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital and Animal Planet’s “Animal Hero” for 2007 and others. Please see the included schedule of events for details.

Conservationists and biologists led by the Amphibian Ark declared 2008 as “The Year of the Frog” to highlight the environmental damage threatening the world population of frogs, salamanders and other amphibians. To learn more about the Amphibian Ark and the dangers faced by many amphibious species, visit the Ark’s Year of the Frog site at http://www.amphibianark.org/yearofthefrog.htm.

Schedule of Events

Friday, Feb. 29

9 am – 5:00 pm: Kickoff featuring costumed reptiles and amphibians, special programs, creature feature films, and crafts. Opening of new Poisonous Dart Frog exhibit.

9 am – 5:00 pm: Live animal displays for visitors to see and touch

9:30 am – 10:30 am: The Frog Prince story time with live animals, Auditorium

11:15 am – 12:15 pm: Karen Beasley presentation: “Sea Turtles in Crisis”, Auditorium

1 pm – 3:00 pm: Jeff Hall and Mike Campbell of NCWRC present “Frogs of NC – Identification and Calls”, Oceans Classroom

1:15 pm – 2:00 pm: “Is it a Reptile or an Amphibian?”, Auditorium

3:15 pm – 4:00 pm: “Venomous vs. Non-venomous”, Auditorium

Sunday, March 2

9 am – 5:00 pm: Live animal displays for visitors to see and touch

9:30 am – 10:15 am: “Is it a Reptile or Amphibian”, Auditorium

11:30 am – 12:30 pm: John Engle of the WNCNC presents “Amphibians of North Carolina”, Auditorium

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Dave Lee of The Tortoise Reserve presents “Turtles in Crisis: A Global Perspective”, Auditorium

3:15 pm – 4:00 pm: “Venomous vs. Non-venomous”, Auditorium