Hands on visit to Vancouver Aquarium Rewarding Experieince

Playing with a Sea Otter

Trainer Tour Gets You Involved for Perfect Day at Vancouver Aquarium

by Julie V. Watson Vancouver Aquarium

When in British Columbia there are a number of “must dos” on our list. At the top spend a day at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park. If you have never visited before you might think, heck who wants to waste time looking at a bunch of fish. First the Aquarium is much, much more than fish in tanks - and - the fish they do have are fascinating - wonderful displays of water creatures from far and near, ranging from whales to tiny seahorses, from birds of prey to seals.

Second, this is a place where you can experience, and participate. Where you can learn about nature around you, and have a window onto the wonders of the world. Here you can picnic beside the beluga pool, sit in comfort and watch whales swim underwater, wander among free flying tropical birds, participate in behind the scenes tours; relax, join in or sit back and observe.

For us, one of the most enjoyable aquarium experiences was a Trainer Tour. Its exciting to go behind the scenes to learn more about otters, sea lions or Belugas, Trainers with the Beluga Whales at Vancouver Aquarium depending on the tour you choose. Our choice was governed by my mobility. It is limited due to a knee injury. Since both the otter and sea lion tours are wheel chair accessible (with prior notice) and since I have a passion for otters that was my choice. The less mobile can take elevators to the lower level, then to slopes that are easy to navigate.

Tours are always small groups, so this is an intimate, involved experience. Only four can take a Beluga tour, which includes an animal encounter and opportunity to learn about the animals behind the scenes. There you can check out marine mammals diet, get their food ready for a training sessions and then visit the habitat.

Our sea otter experience, began in a small room where we learned a little about the wonderful sea mammal. Everyone falls in love with them because of their habit of floating on their backs, holding hands. We learned that in their natural environment out in the ocean, otters sleep on the surface. When in a kelp forest they roll up in a kelp leaf to stop drifting away and hold hands to stabilize each other. They also hold hands, if there is no kelp around, to stop them from drifting apart. A Sea Otter floating

These smallest of the sea otters are the only marine mammals to chew their food and use tools. They use their chest as a table top and consume 25 percent of their body weight every day. As well, they have no blubber so constantly groom their fur introducing air to keep them warm and provide buoyancy in the water. How do they spend a day. Eating, grooming and sleeping with occasional mating and play. A perfect life.

This tour may well be your only opportunity to feel and savour the fur of a sea otter. Ironically, this wonderful soft fur led to their demise in many areas, so that today there are only pockets of sea otters left in the wild. Its one of the facts that makes the work at the aquarium so important.

In West Coast BC you may see sea otters in certain areas where they have been successfully restocked. In Canada they are completely protected to ensure the survival of this important species. You are more likely to see river otters, around Vancouver and Stanley Park. They are known to raid the Salmon stream that is part of the aquarium complex.

It is interesting to note that in British Columbia, when the sea otters disappeared the kelp forests crashed. As they brought back sea otters they began to eat the sea urchins that were decimating the kelp forests so the kelp flourished. Otters are what is known as a keystone species - they need to be there for the eco-system to flourish.

Laden with all kinds of otter facts we headed behind the scenes to the kitchen a sanitized area where you get hands on involved in food preparation. In my case I got to load an exact measurement of clams (out of the shell) along with some ice into a cooler for transporting to the feeding area.

Feeding does not mean getting right up close and hand-feeding, it was throw from behind glass on our tour, but is still a magical experience. We were carefully introduced to the otter in training. He gets easily distracted so it is a matter of gradual and careful interaction. After a short time I’m up with the trainer, near the glass, tossing clams, and special treats (an ice cube with a shrimp frozen in the middle) offered up when he responds well to a command from the trainer or stays focused on what he is supposed to be doing.

It doesn’t seem like much, tossing a bunch of seafood into the tank where an otter is gobbling it down. But, it is special not only because they are so darn cute you just want to cuddle them, but also because of the input from the trainer who is beside you giving direction and explaining why something is being done. This is training a rescued otter to live in the aquarium environment where his medical and life needs can be looked after. I was like a proud mom every time he got something right! Fascinating stuff.

All too son we head back to the reception room for a wrap up. This is a good experience and we gave it an A+ rating.

After the tour we enjoyed lunch beside the Beluga Whale pool, taking in a show. We watched dolphins, we were awestruck by the indoor aquariums and mini “jungle’, and spent an hour below decks observing the various sea life from under the surface. It was a full and wonderful day which we can’t wait to repeat.

TIPS

- check out admission specials, senior rates, or lower priced days.

- Allow lots of time. There is a lot to do at the aquarium so plan at least a half day and get good value back for the price of admission. We usually stay a full day.

- When you arrive check out show times and be there at least 30 minutes ahead to claim your space. It can get crowded and hard to see, especially at the dolphin, seal and sea otter habitats.

- Eat beside the beluga pool. Ok the prices are a little steep but not unreasonable and lets face it what a grand thing to be doing - enjoying a sit down with a meal, which was by the way very good for the ‘take out’ that it is, beside a pool filled with belugas in a wonderful Stanley Park setting. You have a glimpse of the forest, and even the mountains.


Playing with a Sea Otter Trainer Tour Gets You Involved for Perfect Day at Vancouver Aquarium by Julie V. Watson When in British Columbia there are a number of “must dos” on our list. At the top spend a day at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park. If you have never visited before you might think, heck who wants to waste time looking at a bunch of fish. First the Aquarium is much, much more than fish in tanks - and - the fish they do have are fascinating - wonderful displays of water creatures from far and near, ranging from whales to tiny seahorses, from birds of prey to seals. Second, this is a place where you can experience, and participate. Where you can learn about nature around you, and have a window onto the wonders of the world. Here you can picnic beside the beluga pool, sit in comfort and watch whales swim underwater, wander among free flying tropical birds, participate in behind the scenes tours; relax, join in or sit back and observe. For us, one of the most enjoyable aquarium experiences was a Trainer Tour. Its exciting to go behind the scenes to learn more about otters, sea lions or Belugas, depending on the tour you choose. Our choice was governed by my mobility. It is limited due to a knee injury. Since both the otter and sea lion tours are wheel chair accessible (with prior notice) and since I have a passion for otters that was my choice. The less mobile can take elevators to the lower level, then to slopes that are easy to navigate. Tours are always small groups, so this is an intimate, involved experience. Only four can take a Beluga tour, which includes an animal encounter and opportunity to learn about the animals behind the scenes. There you can check out marine mammals diet, get their food ready for a training sessions and then visit the habitat. Our sea otter experience, began in a small room where we learned a little about the wonderful sea mammal. Everyone falls in love with them because of their habit of floating on their backs, holding hands. We learned that in their natural environment out in the ocean, otters sleep on the surface. When in a kelp forest they roll up in a kelp leaf to stop drifting away and hold hands to stabilize each other. They also hold hands, if there is no kelp around, to stop them from drifting apart. These smallest of the sea otters are the only marine mammals to chew their food and use tools. They use their chest as a table top and consume 25 percent of their body weight every day. As well, they have no blubber so constantly groom their fur introducing air to keep them warm and provide buoyancy in the water. How do they spend a day. Eating, grooming and sleeping with occasional mating and play. A perfect life. This tour may well be your only opportunity to feel and savour the fur of a sea otter. Ironically, this wonderful soft fur led to their demise in many areas, so that today there are only pockets of sea otters left in the wild. Its one of the facts that makes the work at the aquarium so important. In West Coast BC you may see sea otters in certain areas where they have been successfully restocked. In Canada they are completely protected to ensure the survival of this important species. You are more likely to see river otters, around Vancouver and Stanley Park. They are known to raid the Salmon stream that is part of the aquarium complex. It is interesting to note that in British Columbia, when the sea otters disappeared the kelp forests crashed. As they brought back sea otters they began to eat the sea urchins that were decimating the kelp forests so the kelp flourished. Otters are what is known as a keystone species - they need to be there for the eco-system to flourish. Laden with all kinds of otter facts we headed behind the scenes to the kitchen a sanitized area where you get hands on involved in food preparation. In my case I got to load an exact measurement of clams (out of the shell) along with some ice into a cooler for transporting to the feeding area. Feeding does not mean getting right up close and hand-feeding, it was throw from behind glass on our tour, but is still a magical experience. We were carefully introduced to the otter in training. He gets easily distracted so it is a matter of gradual and careful interaction. After a short time I’m up with the trainer, near the glass, tossing clams, and special treats (an ice cube with a shrimp frozen in the middle) offered up when he responds well to a command from the trainer or stays focused on what he is supposed to be doing. It doesn’t seem like much, tossing a bunch of seafood into the tank where an otter is gobbling it down. But, it is special not only because they are so darn cute you just want to cuddle them, but also because of the input from the trainer who is beside you giving direction and explaining why something is being done. This is training a rescued otter to live in the aquarium environment where his medical and life needs can be looked after. I was like a proud mom every time he got something right! Fascinating stuff. All too son we head back to the reception room for a wrap up. This is a good experience and we gave it an A+ rating. After the tour we enjoyed lunch beside the Beluga Whale pool, taking in a show. We watched dolphins, we were awestruck by the indoor aquariums and mini “jungle’, and spent an hour below decks observing the various sea life from under the surface. It was a full and wonderful day which we can’t wait to repeat. TIPS - check out admission specials, senior rates, or lower priced days. - Allow lots of time. There is a lot to do at the aquarium so plan at least a half day and get good value back for the price of admission. We usually stay a full day. - When you arrive check out show times and be there at least 30 minutes ahead to claim your space. It can get crowded and hard to see, especially at the dolphin, seal and sea otter habitats. - Eat beside the beluga pool. Ok the prices are a little steep but not unreasonable and lets face it what a grand thing to be doing - enjoying a sit down with a meal, which was by the way very good for the ‘take out’ that it is, beside a pool filled with belugas in a wonderful Stanley Park setting. You have a glimpse of the forest, and even the mountains.
© julie watson (for full disclosure of reproduction and copyright terms and conditions please refer to the home page)
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