Podcasts about Mystic Aquarium

Phil Demers joins me outside the gates of Marineland for this episode- a return to a conversation we began seven years ago at the Fox Theatre.Back then, we were fighting to pass Bill S-203 to end whale captivity in Canada. The law passed in 2019.Now, the fight is to save the remaining 30 beluga whales and 500 other animals who remain trapped inside as the park has ceased to exist. At one point, recently, Marineland even threatened to euthanize the whales if governments didn't provide emergency financial support.Phil “The Walrus Whisperer” Demers was a trainer at Marineland turned whistleblower. He spent over a decade fighting Marineland in court after leaving his job there in 2012. After 13 years of legal battles and public advocacy, Marineland is finally on its last legs. But the fight to save the remaining animals isn't over.We discussed what happens next, short-term and long-term solutions, and why governments should lead on this instead of playing only a reactive role.Chapters:0:00 Standing Outside Marineland6:21 Why China Might Actually Be Better10:04 The Sanctuary Myth & Rescue Reality14:08 30 Dead Whales18:13 500 Forgotten Animals19:30 13 Years of Legal Hell24:37 Conclusion: The Divorce AnalogyRead further:The Walrus and the Whistleblower - Documentary (CBC Gem) https://www.cbc.ca/documentarychannel/docs/the-walrus-and-the-whistleblower7 years ago with Phil: Transcript: [00:00:00] Nate Erskine-Smith: All right, well, welcome to Uncommons. It's an interesting episode because I'm joined by Phil Demers, who actually joined me at the Fox Theater many years ago, four years ago before we started the podcast actually. And it was just a, a local town hall event. We showed Blackfish. Right. And you were there to talk about your experience as a whistleblower at this horrible place behind us.[00:00:19] Uh, it is interesting how far we've come, but also that the issue is so acute still. Uh, at the time we were talking about a bill that had to be passed. To end this kind of production and make sure we were protecting institutions in captivity. And you were adamant we had to get this bill passed. Hmm. Well we got the bill passed.[00:00:37] Yeah. And yet we've got marineland, uh, beside us now, and it was grandfathered through in a way. And now we've got 30 beluga whales. We've got 500 other animals that are, that are in here. Mm-hmm. And all of which, all, all of whom need to be saved in, in, in one way or another. And, uh, it didn't [00:01:00] have to come to this, really did it.[00:01:02] Phil Demers: Well, we've, what, what has glossed over in much of, of your story is we've got a unwilling marine land in all of that. Yes. To evolve in any way, shape or form to be a, financially viable, uh, you know, for the security of their own future. Uh, but b, to adhere to any of the laws that we essentially passed, both provincially and, uh, and federally, although we did ban the breeding of the whales. Yep. Had we not banned the breeding of the whales. So, so currently there's 30 belugas remaining. There's four dolphins. Uh, we got two sea lions and a, and a host of, uh, land animals there. Had we not banned the breeding of belugas in 2019?[00:01:41] Nate Erskine-Smith: Yep.[00:01:42] Phil Demers: And albeit, the pregnant belugas of 2019 were grandfathered in.[00:01:47] So there were some whale birth births there. On average, Marineland had five to seven belugas born per year. A couple would die. But there's, you know, it's conceivable to say that whereas [00:02:00] we have 30 right now in there, we would have had an excess of 50. Right. They would've kept probably 60.[00:02:05] Nate Erskine-Smith: Yes, of course they would've kept the business model broke down with that law.[00:02:08] But if they would've kept going otherwise, I mean, they're, they were the bad actors. It's the, it just wants to keep it active [00:02:12] Phil Demers: At this point. It's the only, it's the only part of the law that they've, ad they've adhered to outside of importing, of course, which, which, uh, we ban. So it's, it's beyond their control, but.[00:02:21] Um, you know, the breeding, they, they stopped, but had they not, we'd be talking about 50 to 60 whales in those tanks. It, it was, uh, you know, that's something to really hang our hat on. That was a huge, uh, and super progressive, uh, lawsuit. But it does interestingly, take us to this place now where marine land is, you know, we essentially bankrupt.[00:02:39] I, but we should stress owns a lot of land sitting on 700 acres of prime land meant to fuel or feed the, uh, the whole family trust. That's, those are the heirs to it. You know, the operation is essentially sucking the money out of that. And so they're looking for the, be it most lucrative or least expensive [00:03:00] way to get outta this thing.[00:03:01] The sale to China was to be a profitable one. Uh, should be stressed that here in North America, none of the facilities wanna do business with marine land, right? A few years ago, five belugas were sent to Mystic Aquarium, three of which died within weeks and months. Uh, all having to do with, uh, preexisting conditions from Marineland.[00:03:20] Nate Erskine-Smith: So, so pause, pause for a moment. ‘cause I think for those who are listening, they may not know you've got 30 belugas here. And there was, uh, a deal that Marine Land wanted a broker, at least with a facility in China. Ocean Kingdom time, long Ocean Kingdom. The decision of the federal minister was to say no animal welfare first.[00:03:41] Uh, the primary purpose here is entertainment and, and we're not convinced that they're gonna be putting animal welfare first. Akin to the concern here, right? And, and why we don't want this to contain to exist. But then the knock on question why is so acute right now is okay, but then what? Because marine land comes out as proper monsters. They say, well, if we don't get emergency funding, we're gonna, we're gonna euthanize these whales,[00:04:05] Phil Demers: which is a familiar theme with Marineland. In all of my years of dealing with them, it was always do this or else. Uh, again, I I, this morning alone, I watched a, a YouTube video. It was pretty.[00:04:14] Pretty thorough history of marine land and in it is always the familiar threat of, well, if you don't do this, I'm gonna, and it includes ship the park to the, to the US that includes, you know, a whole host of things. But that's all, that's marine land's bluster when it, they don't get their way right. But that said, the, the spirit of the law was to give, uh, to give final say to the minister so that they can ultimately consider the interests of the animals in it, which is a level of personhood, which is not.[00:04:39] Which is atypical of most laws, especially of animals.[00:04:40] Nate Erskine-Smith: Of, yeah. Yeah. An incredibly important step. Yeah.[00:04:43] Phil Demers: Really, really, uh, progressive, you know, the spirit is to end captivity and, you know, and if you can stamp that out here, the, the idea is that it, it's, uh, it'll evolve to the rest of the world. And to be fair, uh, France adopted a very similar law recently passed, [00:05:00] uh, as well as, uh, new South Wales.[00:05:02] The province in Australia adopted a law. It's actually picking up around the world. So, so it's, you know. I always stress when we, we look at, hey, we wanna end captivity, I always stress that's a hundred year, that's a hundred year fight. If all goes extremely well, you know, you've got burgeoning business in China, some in Russia, right?[00:05:20] And we're still ending sort of ours here, sort of choking that off here and that's still expanding there. So, you know, we've, we've started something that's gonna continue elsewhere, but you know, it's gotta end here. It's gotta end here first and ending.[00:05:33] Nate Erskine-Smith: You can put a law on the books and, okay, so. Uh, on a going forward basis, you, you might avoid problems and, and avoid cruelty, but you still have 30 belugas here.[00:05:44] And then the question becomes, well, what happens next? And, and I don't wanna pretend that it's just a marineland problem because you were just, uh, commenting on the fact that in Miami you got seaquarium that's now shut down, that this is going to happen in other places too. Well of Mexico just banned it.[00:05:59] Phil Demers: [00:06:00] And now all of their animals, now captive and legally captive can no longer perform in shows, can no longer do the swim with programs, et cetera, et cetera. So what happens is it becomes unviable to the owners. They lose their incentive, their incentive to have and use these animals. So what becomes well, unfortunately, in, in, in my estimation of what is available to us.[00:06:20] Nate Erskine-Smith: Yeah.[00:06:21] Phil Demers: You know, I'd always had hope that the much of these animals would go to the us, but it's not gonna happen by way of a broker deal because again, none of ‘em wanna touch marine land for obvious reasons. Again, I, I mentioned the five whales that died at, uh, mystic.[00:06:33] Nate Erskine-Smith: Yep.[00:06:34] Phil Demers: They also know of the bad PR.[00:06:36] Marine land's been getting here for the decades. I mean, it's been global news, you can't ignore it. So SeaWorld also had to sue Marine Land a number of years ago to get an orca back. So SeaWorld doesn't wanna touch marine land, so I don't think. Anyone in the US wants to associate with buying animals off marine land or brokering any type of deal affiliations, et cetera, et cetera.[00:06:54] But you know, I'd had this hope that this government, the provincial [00:07:00] Animal welfare society, especially with their policing powers and their ability to seize animals. You know, you have, you have essentially an opportunity to seize these animals and send them to these places, whereas those places might be receiving of them if they're by way of a rescue versus of, of a broker deal.[00:07:15] But again, this is me talking, theorizing, trying to figure this thing out. [00:07:19] Nate Erskine-Smith: But let's imagine that so, so the federal government. Has done its part in passing the law. I, I think the federal government could play a strong convening role here. And, and we're starting to, I mean, in the wake of the minister turning down those permits, uh, to, uh, ocean Kingdom in China, I mean, uh, there is a role for the federal government to show some leadership here, but the actual law, the power that you're talking about, the seizure power that exists, provincially, provincially, and you got Doug Ford over here talking about caring about dogs and okay.[00:07:46] I, I like that. Okay. Yeah. Let's, let's have concern for, for all animals. Uh, but in this particular case, as soon as Marineland says, well, without emergency funding, we'll euthanize them. They should be coming in here, seizing and using their authority. And, [00:08:00] and, and by the way, I mean even as part of, uh. Uh, I was reading, uh, as part of the settlement back in 2017 and driving the lawsuit.[00:08:07] I mean, they agreed to monitoring. I mean, like, what are we even talking about here? Have animal welfare experts, animal science experts. Well, they're in there. They're in there. And why, and why can't, and then why can't Doug Ford sees these and say, now we can broker a deal with the animal welfare top of mind instead of marineland trying to extract top dollar.[00:08:25] Phil Demers: So in the think tank, that's become, since all of this and the Yeah. You know, sort of the, where does this go? I do have to say with limited options, China might be atop the very best options. And let me explain why if those animals were in a neutral place right now. Just let's just, let's just do this as like a, a sort of a thought, uh, uh, experiment if this animals were in a neutral space right now and yet to elect where they're going.[00:08:49] Yeah. Outside of the laws themselves, which is, you know, for the most part, it doesn't exist in China. That I, that I know, I don't wanna be quoted, but I don't know what the animal, uh, oversight and, [00:09:00] and, and laws are like over here. But we know what they are here. Yeah. And we know that they exist here. But that said, they're not really do serving so, so much.[00:09:07] Uh, these days, if there was a choice between the facilities, it'd be hands down, you'd be sending them to, to China. It wouldn't even be a question. There wouldn't even be a question. These are brand new facilities that massive I had. A team member was there two weeks ago, a a, a former, uh, friend of mine that worked at marineland Works there.[00:09:24] These are brand new massive, expansive facilities, the conditions of which are good and in fact maybe even be said to be great in the realm of captive facilities. I don't want to be a defender of any facility. I don't wanna say, Hey, that's a good one, but what, on the scale of, you wouldn't consider this for a moment, but because they're in there, it becomes a little bit more complicated because it's a question of, of removing them, but.[00:09:48] Because of the limited space of where those animals have and being against the clock, they're gonna have to go somewhere. And, uh, again, I stress the us I ideally, first and foremost, if it doesn't work out [00:10:00] there, or if, you know, obviously they don't have the space for 30, we know this already, some are gonna have to go to China[00:10:04] Nate Erskine-Smith: So let, let's walk, let's, I, let's take some time to walk, walk through those options. Because again, some people might say, well, why not return them to the wild? We've seen the consequences of that in, in, in some ways. You, uh, in, uh, there was a return to, uh, facility in, in, in Iceland at one point, I think in.[00:10:24] So, well, that's not, that's not gonna work. And so there, there are just knock on challenges to, to that option.[00:10:28] Phil Demers: There is no such thing as a perfect scenario. Also, that needs to be stressed because I think we're, we're, and we have been wasting a lot of time and thought on what would be perfect. Right? And it doesn't exist.[00:10:38] We have to scale that. Our expectations back to what is. And, and also stress that these animals are not very healthy. Now, I'm not gonna call them sick. Do we know? Do, is it Well on a, on a scale of the, they all, they're all unwell by virtue of the conditions that have been here.[00:10:58] Nate Erskine-Smith: But do, uh, is there that [00:11:00] openness with, uh, say.[00:11:02] Uh, nonprofit or, or government experts and, and animal scientists who have access into properly not a chance.[00:11:09] Phil Demers: And, and for that matter, anything that you would've access to look at would be changed,[00:11:12] Nate Erskine-Smith: right?[00:11:13] Phil Demers: So, so anyone that has a pen and, and putting it to paper has an interest in some people not knowing everything that's going on.[00:11:20] Nate Erskine-Smith: So Wildes out and then you've got, uh, wild is out and there have been proposals. For animal sanctuaries, there's one in Nova Scotia that, that is, that is closest to realization. No. Uh, having spoke well, having spoken to the, the folks there, they said, well, the earliest is really next fall. And that's an optimistic timeline.[00:11:38] And, uh, and then you're, they're talking about a max of taking 10 of the whales, which today, in the environment that we exist, uh, doesn't seem like the most plausible option when you want to protect these animals and, and put animal welfare in their animal interest first. Today. So, uh, the answer does, you know, first it's just who's the decision maker?[00:11:59] And it can't be marine land that is deciding what the deal on the table should be.[00:12:03] Phil Demers: Well, clearly they're not, they don't make the decisions in the best, the best interest of the Yeah, exactly. Just to stress the point of the, of the whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia. I wish it more than anyone to be an operational place, but it's not.[00:12:13] I've gone, it can't be, it's not going to be. Its decades and hundreds of millions. And who's foot in the bill? This is. A theory at best, and we got to move beyond theories or else what happens is people start hanging their hats out. People start talking, talking, talking. But the specific needs of those animals, and that's outside of a perfect world, if we're gonna have a sanctuary for animals, that has to be tried.[00:12:36] In the best cases, not in one of duress and, and emergency, et cetera. It's, this is an experiment for the most part, but those animals need to get a access. So we're talking about a, uh, this monster sanctuary, but did they, in all of that, go through the what is required to actually care for these animals?[00:12:53] You need a, a rising floor of a tank to be able to access sick animals so that you can give them, uh, medication, et cetera. You gotta be able to [00:13:00] access the animals, but an animal's sick in the middle of your sanctuary. How are you gonna get them? And get them on a, on back to the shoreline, back into a tank where they can be monitored and then, you know, be given drugs and et cetera treated.[00:13:12] And you've got the, the challenges that these animals already face is just outside of the scope of what an experiments at this point can offer. Right? These animals need facilities with people that know where to inject The animals know where to draw blood, know, you know, they got the book on the meds and they got access to those animals because that's essentially what they need.[00:13:32] When we're talking about what the. What's happening here? It's essentially a rescue and it's, it's how it needs to be framed. It's how I've always said it. And again, I I'm, I'm sounding like a broken record because I've been saying this for a decade, and if you read it, it's, it, I don't think I've done a single interview in the last decade where I said, if we don't get those animals out, they're gonna die.[00:13:50] And, and, you know, it's easy to say, well, of course they're all going to die if they don't move. But you know, if you watch. At the rate that I was saying it and the rate that the animal [00:14:00] started to die, we're talking about a scale that's grading up and speeding up and accelerating. So 30 animals have died there, essentially.[00:14:08] I, I know it's in the records as, as 2020 whales, but you know, if you add the three that died at Mystic as being marineland whales, right. If you add the, uh, while we know that in the, in 2019 there's an affidavit that Marineland sworn of having 58 beluga whales. But we know that they would've pregnant ones.[00:14:27] So five to seven more born there. Deduct those numbers. ‘cause they're, they're no longer in that inventory. Um, you've got 30 whales that have died essentially since about 2018. More than 50 since I quit, which will have been 60 or more if we hadn't have passed the, the breeding bin. Nothing here is new.[00:14:55] Marine land's, bluster, et cetera, et cetera. You're finally hearing their actual voice. You're not seeing [00:15:00] the jingle on tv. You're not seeing them talking about their, their animal welfare record and, and boasting it as the best in the world. You are seeing the, the people here have seen the marine land, the, the real marine land for the first time.[00:15:09] Yeah.[00:15:09] Nate Erskine-Smith: Big difference between everybody loves marine land and we're gonna kill the whales if you don't gonna sip on. Right. And this is a, this is a theme I've known for far too long because, you know, they don't like me. But, uh, so just to close the, close this, uh, what's on the table? It could be on the table.[00:15:24] So. You've got, uh, sanctuaries talked about promising in the longer term, potentially [00:15:30] Phil Demers: Well, if, and when that exists, the belugas hopefully are alive no matter where they are in the world to one day be received there. [00:15:36] Nate Erskine-Smith: Right, right, right.[00:15:38] Phil Demers: There's so there if they're alive, which we have to stress.[00:15:39] Nate Erskine-Smith: And so, but in the immediate term, uh, you're looking at, in an ideal world, when it's not an ideal world, uh, you've got the premier acting, you got the provincial government that would seize. Control in order to make decisions in the best interest of the animals, you've got a situation where then you would survey what's available across North America and [00:16:00] and elsewhere and say, we're gonna proactively reach out and try to place these animals, putting animal welfare interests first.[00:16:07] Phil Demers: And if I was negotiating those moves, I would say any re, any facility that receives these animals. Have to adhere to the spirit of the 2019 law. Right. Which is, and I think North America would, would be glad to adhere to that. They already generally do. I don't think they're breeding belugas. Uh, you know, most of these places have their own, despite it not being law, they're sort of in-house no longer breeding.[00:16:27] Definitely orcas that I know of, hopefully dolphins one day, but we're, we're not there yet. Uh, but that, yes, so with the caveat that, hey, if we can follow this, you know, it should be noted that. The spirit of of S two S 2 0 3, which is the law that passed, was that we're, we're gonna eradicate captivity in Canada.[00:16:44] Sort of the idea was, you know, we're gonna end this situations of captivity. And well, with the idea of that globally, this build had this, this effect. But that said, these animals who are already here, sadly, and with, with zero to minus zero option of ever being returned [00:17:00] to the wild, and I hate to be this voice.[00:17:04] But if they go elsewhere, it may very well spare some live ones from being captured. And that is in the spirit of the law. So there is some salvation in this ending in Canada. The animals moving on to better places. Yep. And no more whales ever returning. And that practice being said and done, and we wash our hands of it.[00:17:24] And that's the biggest win that can be done. The noise of our bullhorns out here. Follow them to the next place. They'll hear us out there. The fight continues where they go. That's, that's the reality. We got a hundred year problem ahead of us if everything goes well. [00:17:43] Nate Erskine-Smith: And let's talk about the other animals.[00:17:45] I mean, you are known as the walrus whisperer. You didn't start fighting. Just for the whales. I mean, you were fighting for the walrus smooth. She, and there are an estimated, what, 500 other [00:18:00] animals? It's a lot of deer in there. Yeah. And, uh, and so is that also part of the picture here? I mean all obviously the public focus has overwhelmingly being on the whales, but, uh, what do we do with the other animals?[00:18:13] Phil Demers: Well, that I know of, the Toronto Zoo expressed some interest. They were visiting the facility in early October. Those animals are likely destined for, uh, I mean, ideally, some sanctuaries that we know do exist. They, there are some, yeah. Um, the bison are already gone. No one seems to really know where there, there's theories, but they're gone.[00:18:37] Uh, the bear, they that they're gonna have a tough time because bears are, are solitary animals. They shouldn't be confined to a tight space anyways. It's already really, uh, antisocial and dangerous for them. It's like a really unnatural environment. And so the coat is sort of stunted and no place is looking for a bunch of bears.[00:18:53] So, you know, I'm, I won't be surprised if a lot of them get euthanized very quietly, uh, and, you [00:19:00] know, the deer, 500 deer or so, what are you gonna do with that? So, I, I don't know. Again, I, I, I leave this to, you know, I, I'm, you know, I've had my sort of, I, I got a decade plus of fighting against this place.[00:19:14] That's the extent of my knowledge of animal rights. And a lot of people come to me and say, Hey, this, this, and that. I'm just like, uh, talk to an organization that knows this stuff.[00:19:23] Nate Erskine-Smith: Right. So they, I mean, the last time we spoke, uh, where we were, we had an audience in front of us.[00:19:30] Yep. Uh, that's, that, that you were still Yeah. Yeah. You were still deep in litigation where they were taking you on and trying to silence you. Mm-hmm. Uh, I mean, it's interesting, you know, you've come to animal rights, but also, uh, you've. Really been, I think, uh, uh, you've, you've shown what it is to be a whistleblower in a, in a, in a publicized important way.[00:19:53] And the, and the importance of whistle blowing protections despite the fact that they came after you with everything they got. And, uh, where [00:20:00] is all of that at now? I mean, you've, uh, uh, before we started recording, you're talking about smooshy ended up where, so we[00:20:07] Phil Demers: essentially, you know, so they sued me in 2000, early 2013 for plotting to steal smooshy the walrus.[00:20:12] Yep. You terrible verse you and I could have done it, but I didn't. And it had nothing to do with Marine le, but if anyone could have done it, but I wasn't going to, you'd have to be crazy. And much as they tried to make me out to be crazy, uh, you know, I, there's some percentage of crazy, but it's not, not to the scope of what they had described in this lawsuit.[00:20:31] So, you know, it was baseless. It, it did inspire antis, SLAPP legislation, uh, provincially, which was great. It didn't help me, but it's, you know, it, it's there for the future. It's important.[00:20:40] Nate Erskine-Smith: Yeah.[00:20:41] Phil Demers: And I also stress when you, when you say, you know, you did, you, you were a whistleblower and you know, we, we, we passed a, a host of different sort of whistleblower protection laws and everything.[00:20:49] I, this wasn't an animal rights issue. It, it, this was an animal rights issue when I left. It wasn't animal rights. It was a, here's what I've experienced and if something [00:21:00] doesn't happen to this, this, this, these animals will, you know, their suffering will increase. Tell you, I know me suddenly being sued.[00:21:07] Like these were, these were my friends, these animals and, and the employees. This is like, these were, you know, you're gonna see your neighbor's dog like that and you walk ‘em every day. You're gonna have some concerns. Like, so this was that for me. It spills over into an animal rights realm, of course, because animal rights, people who had, you know, to their credit, been fighting this forever, suddenly, you know, I, I show up, but you know, to be fair, I'm not really an animal rights guy.[00:21:31] She was your friend, smooshy. Yeah, of course. Right. That's of course. But I'm just, when it comes, those you love mistreated when it comes to the history of, and what is. The box of animal rights activists, which I get very often. It's like, no man, it's just, it's not, that's not really what this was for me.[00:21:49] What this was, was, let's say, professional a*****e versus semi-professional a*****e. And it was a clash of all crazy proportions if you weren't witness to it. I, I could only [00:22:00] imagine how much fun it was on the sidelines. I mean, I, I, I, I like to do it up for the people, put on a show, and we did. Uh, but that's what this was, this was every corner.[00:22:08] This was a fight. Tooth and nail in every aspect and element of every which way of my life outside of that, of the animals. It was a, it started as an animal thing and it's taken on an entire other, uh, entire, entire other, uh, uh, level. [00:22:24] Nate Erskine-Smith: But, but with that said and taken over your life, I mean, uh, well, the litigation and just the, I mean, all of that takes an incredible amount of toll and time[00:22:33] Phil Demers: I would not have imagined when it happened that.[00:22:36] That this was going to be like the most forever decision. I, I'll be honest, and this is ambitious and in retrospect, super naive of me, but armed with the truth at the time, I thought in my mind, this is gonna take six months to resolve the, again, my objective was not, let's shut marine land down six months.[00:22:53] Well, what did I know about litigation, about anything? I just thought, well, listen, if the people know, well, not even the people. I thought if the, [00:23:00] if the authorities knew the, you know, if they knew, and here they were here, it was, they knew. And that was like the beginning of my journey. And here I am 13 years later and it all wholly and entirely reshaped into a, a pretty efficient marineland busting machine.[00:23:19] Like it's, it's been a pleasure. But, uh, but yeah, there's an element of almost, it's a weird one and, but I, I almost chalk it up to what retired NHL players might. I feel like when they, when they're so engaged in something that, that, that requires so much energy and, you know, like, and, and levels of execution and like, you know, you really gotta psych yourself up for some of the s**t I've been through now I'm trying to take a breath from it all.[00:23:48] Then we got this thing going on still. You're like, ay, ay. So no, it turned into, i, I guess what will be a decade long, uh, life identifier. It's become. [00:24:00] You know, I'm, I'm kind of married to this place now.[00:24:02] Nate Erskine-Smith: Right, exactly. And, and, and you live through personal challenges and then coming after you legally and then all of that.[00:24:11] But you, you, I mean, you, we stand outside this place today and it's, you're gonna out survive it. You know? This is on his last legs. And it's, uh, in a, in large measure the law we passed in large measure the public outcry and large measure because you were able to shine a light on it and, and called attention is something that was wrong.[00:24:32] Phil Demers: It kind of looks like a divorce and now we want the kids[00:24:37] hard to, hard to find a home for the kids. That's the problem. Well. But here we are. Uh, but again, exactly, I, I, I do stress. I think that all of this will be revisited by the feds because there is gonna have to be some extra consideration give to the immediate conditions. Yes. As just this, the extent of, of how awful all of this is.[00:24:54] Should other things be considered first? Yes, I think so too. I don't think marine land should stand on, uh. [00:25:00] Hey, do what we say or, or give us money and this and that[00:25:03] Nate Erskine-Smith: No. They've, they've found their way to profit. It's a, they should care for the animals.[00:25:07] Phil Demers: It's a, it's a breath of fresh air to not to see nobody caving because, uh, Marineland has known that for too long.[00:25:12] Yeah. Uh, but, you know, so there, there should be a, a very diligent work done as into what can be done for these animals. But, you know, given the fact that we are super limited, I think there's gonna have to be some reconsideration. To the Chinese facilities. It just is. It would be great if they came with the caveat of don't breed them and don't do this.[00:25:32] Maybe that could be negotiated. I don't know.[00:25:35] Nate Erskine-Smith: But I think, uh, and I think it's useful to close here. I mean, in the end, in the same way that, uh, you've got individuals including yourself who have shown leadership. I mean, at this moment in time, we need governments not to react, not to say, well, it's our job to review a permit, or it's our job to review.[00:25:51] If there's a complaint or there's an investigation to say, no, no, no. We are gonna proactively find a home for these animals. We're gonna proactively pull the stakeholders together, [00:26:00] together, pull the organizations together across North America and elsewhere. Say it's not a perfect world. So what exists here?[00:26:06] What what is possible, and to, and to show some leadership and, and to not just react and to try to solve the problem in a proactive way and not leave it. To these guys who are not intending to solve the problem at all and are didn't want the law passed in the first place.[00:26:20] Phil Demers: They've proven themselves as being irresponsible caretakers.[00:26:24] It's time for other people to have a hand in what becomes, and uh, you know, they may not like it, but they've set the stage for exactly that. So now other people will have a say. [00:26:33] Nate Erskine-Smith: Appreciate it[00:26:34] Phil Demers: Anytime This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.uncommons.ca

Dateline: July 18, 2025. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start off with a quick catch up on me. Then it's time for our headline story featuring a reminder that FOIA exists.We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from The Detroit Zoo, The Oregon Zoo, Ripley Wildlife Conservancy, the Denver Zoo, and panda cubs from FOUR facilities!We then say goodbye to animals from the Kansas City Zoo, Mystic Aquarium, the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo, and ZooMontana.We have additional Zoo News stories from the Edinburgh Zoo, the Bronx Zoo, and more! Conservation News stories include good news for sea turtles, a bird going extinct in North Dakota, and The Lord of the Swans! And in Other News, we have a cool story about Dholes and then an update on Colossal Biosciences that annoys me.ROSSIFARI LINKS: patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok 

David Cochran is the Senior Director of Fish and Invertebrates at Mystic Aquarium. He discusses his job there at the beautiful Mystic Aquarium and if we should be worried of Sharks at the beaches of Connecticut and Rhode Island

This hour, we’ll explore climate change’s impact on many whale populations – from Belugas in the Arctic Ocean to North Atlantic right whales off the coast of New England. We’ll hear how studies conducted on Beluga whales at Mystic Aquarium are helping scientists better understand what factors threaten their survival in the wild. And later, scientists working on a research initiative called “Project CETI” are using AI technology to learn the language of Connecticut’s state animal: the sperm whale. GUESTS: Eve Zuckoff: Climate and Environment Reporter, CAI Tracy Romano: Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist of Marine Sciences, Mystic Aquarium Gašper Beguš: Associate Professor, Dept. of Linguistics, UC Berkeley Kathryn Hulick: Science Journalist, Science News Explores Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. This episode originally aired on February 24, 2025.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab your farm-to-table needles and meet us at the torture farm for an all new LIVE! Fresh off the realization that Mystic Aquarium is running a beluga whale scheme, the Boiz are concocting new animal grifts. Would a crab eat your feet? Would your blood clot if you were cut in half but had endless blood? How many times can a lizard lose its tail? Plus, big update on Fencepocolypse. Matt milks a squid. Pat has the hands of an armadillo. All that and the sleepy sewing frequency and it all happens LIVE!

In this episode of the Everyday Bucket List Podcast, find out why Connecticut is worth visiting! We cover: Beautiful places to visit in CT Activities for adults, families, and couples Fun things to do year-round Connecticut is often overlooked as a travel destination, leaving many unaware of the stunning places to visit in the state. Connecticut offers a range of beautiful places to visit, including Gillette Castle in the fall and the Mystic Aquarium for family fun. Whether you're looking for places to visit in Connecticut with kids or things to do in Connecticut for couples, there are plenty of options, from scenic parks to historic attractions. Mystic is one of the prettiest place in Connecticut. For those seeking fun things to do in CT for adults, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun Resorts offer entertainment and dining. Connecticut is perfect for cozy experiences like scenic steam train rides through picturesque landscapes. Connecticut is worth visiting year-round, with unique activities and destinations for all types of travelers. She also highlights non-touristy attractions like polo matches, Dinosaur State Park, and Hogpen Hill Farm's sculptures.    CLICK THE LINKS BELOW OR CUT AND PASTE THEM INTO YOUR BROWSER: Read the blog post (show notes): https://karencordaway.com/places-to-visit-in-connecticut/  Binge-listen to my USA Travel Podcast Episodes https://bit.ly/4fyfh53 Travel to New England for Vacation (Spotify Playlist)  https://spoti.fi/3XhP0S6  Binge-listen to my Seasonal Bucket List playlist https://bit.ly/3SPiiVN   Listen to these episodes next: https://karencordaway.com/fun-things-to-do-in-ct/ New England Bucket List: Summer Vacations to Plan Part II (Ep 84) Why a Providence, Rhode Island Visit is Definitely Worth It! (Ep 35) Discover Fun Things to Do in Rhode Island (Ep 54) Summer Bucket List: 15+ Fun Things to Do at Home or Closeby (Ep 100)   RESOURCES: Get 100 Things to Do in Connecticut Before You Die https://amzn.to/3XO0X2a Grab a copy of  The Everyday Bucket List Book https://amzn.to/3vwxz2K If you'd like to support my work, check out https://buymeacoffee.com/edbl   Connect with the guest: Website: StashaMillsHealy.com Book: 100 Things to Do in Connecticut Before You Die https://amzn.to/3XO0X2a   Connect with me: Website: KarenCordaway.com Twitter (X): @KarenCordaway https://x.com/karencordaway Pinterest: @Everyday_Bucket_List https://www.pinterest.com/EverydayBucketList/ Tiktok: @Everyday_Bucket_List https://www.tiktok.com/@everyday_bucket_list   If you're enjoying this podcast, please rate and review it here. Let me know what you like about it so I know exactly what content to keep creating for you. Disclaimer: Some of the outbound links financially benefit the podcast. Using our links is a small way to support the show at zero cost to you. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for your support. I'll be updating my podcast descriptions and show notes. Thanks for your patience as I transition. Hello@KarenCordaway.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.  

Dateline: March 7, 2025. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start off with where I am now, and wondering why is it so cold?Our headline story is a look at Chappy, the seal pup rescued by Mystic Aquarium that came to national prominence before sadly passing away. What can we learn from all the things Mystic did so, so right? We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from Blank Park Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo, the Indianapolis Zoo, the London Zoo, and Wild Discovery! We say goodbye to beloved animals at Potawatomi Zoo, the Calgary Zoo, and the Toronto Zoo.The rest of our Zoo News stories feature items from the AZA, Zoos Victoria, Zoo Atlanta, Buttonwood Park Zoo, Roger Williams Park Zoo, and more! Then in Conservation News we discuss the latest Trump Administration decisions that affect conservation, some new rediscoveries of species, and the latest update on the quest to recreate the woolly mammoth. In Other News, we talk about a death that wasn't and also a look at how your house cat can be affected by HPAI in new and exciting ways! ROSSIFARI LINKS: patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok 

Send us some fan mail here!This week the boys are excited (especially Nick!) to sit down with hiker and photographer Corey (AKA @coreyoutoors and "Corey O.") and discuss his journey becoming a full-time photographer in the Whites, his background in the outdoors, love of hiking, and more!Josh has been on vacation and takes a trip to Mystic Aquarium with the family, everybody remembers touching their first stingray, there are towns in Rhode Island Josh has never heard of, Nick's week was crazy but had fun celebrating a recent engagement, entertaining and cooking for some grandparents, and Nick opts to stay "local" snowshoeing some loops over a freezing-cold and windy Mount Wachusett on Presidents' Day, a recent rescue with a "good" ending on Mount Washington, and we hear from Corey and how his passion of taking photos of friends while hiking and chasing sunrises evolved into a full career as a photographer for different outdoor clothing and equipment brands on this let's-nerd-out-about-photography-a-bit-too-episode of the PUDs Podcast!!!Nick's Music Moment:Household Name - Momma - 2022Josh's Jazzy Music Moment:Once in a Lifetime - Talking HeadsEpisode Links:Corey's InstagramCorey's Facebook PageCorey David PhotographyFollow us on Instagram: @pudspodcastFollow us on Facebook: PUDs PodcastSubscribe to Nick's YouTube Channel: Nick in NatureFollow Nick on Instagram: @nick__in__natureFollow Josh on Instagram: @josh___talksEmail us at: pudspod@outlook.comRecorded and Produced in Black Cat Studios by Nick Sidla© 2025 PUDs Podcast

This hour, we’ll explore climate change’s impact on many whale populations – from Belugas in the Arctic Ocean to North Atlantic right whales off the coast of New England. We’ll hear how studies conducted on Beluga whales at Mystic Aquarium are helping scientists better understand what factors threaten their survival in the wild. And later, scientists working on a research initiative called “Project CETI” are using AI technology to learn the language of Connecticut’s state animal: the sperm whale. GUESTS: Eve Zuckoff: Climate and Environment Reporter, CAI Tracy Romano: Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist of Marine Sciences, Mystic Aquarium Gašper Beguš: Associate Professor, Dept. of Linguistics, UC Berkeley Kathryn Hulick: Science Journalist, Science News Explores Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Callan is the Manager of Animal Rescue at Mystic Aquarium. She discusses the seal that was found on a New Haven Street and tells us how the rehab is going. She also tells us the name of the lost boy!

Alexandra Cojocaru, Animal Rescue Technician at Mystic Aquarium talks about the grey seal who was doing a bit of sight sea-ing along the Connecticut coast line.

Chaz and AJ spoke with Sarah Callan from Mystic Aquarium this morning about the rescue of a grey seal, after it was found skidding around the icy streets of New Haven.    Photo credit: Getty Images

Dateline: February 14, 2025. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start off with a quick update about the SAFE Red Panda plan.Our headline story this week is...well, I'm not going to spoil it. But it's a STORY, y'all!We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from the Oregon Zoo, Shreveport Aquarium, Metro Richmond Zoo, Mystic Aquarium, and Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.We say goodbye to beloved animals at Elmwood Park Zoo, the Adelaide Zoo, the Tulsa Zoo, the Naples Zoo, ZooAtlanta, and Smithsonian's National Zoo.The rest of our Zoo News stories feature items from Sedgwick County Zoo, Phoenix Zoo, Bronx Zoo, the San Francisco Zoo, and more.Then in Conservation News we have the latest ways Trump is trying to destroy environmental protections, jaguar migration, a look at the tiger population of India, an extension of the ivory ban in the UK, some concerning news about monarch butterflies, and one way climate change is actually a positive.In Other News we talk about pinnipeds in beds and such.  ROSSIFARI LINKS: patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok Birds of a Feather Talk TogetherA podcast on The Feather Thief - a true crime museum heist in search of bird feathersListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

 Every Friday in The Feed Megan Schinella comes on the air to talk about all the fun things happening in and around Connecticut this weekend that you can do with the kids and family.  1. Fire & Ice Winter Festival in Columbus Park Stamford 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm. The event will feature ice sculpting demonstrations, interactive ice photo frame, fire pits, live music and more! 2. Pengwee's Breath Puppet Show at Stepping Stones Museum For Children in Norwalk. Showtimes all wknd.  3. Drop In Craft: Colorful Squishies Saturday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm $5, Fairfield Museum color your own squishy toy to take home. Choose from a squishy unicorn or star design. 4. The Mermaids Are Back at Mystic Aquarium all wknd. These beauties have floated back to mystify visitors with their gliding and swishing. Everybody will leave the Aquarium wishing they could grow gills. 5. Winterfest 2025 at Ski Sundown in New Hartford a festival of winter fun. Put on your favorite winter costume, funny hat or helmet cover and celebrate the winter season. This event is free to anyone with a Ski Sundown lift ticket or pass. Festivities will include: 11:00am – 1:00pm: Face Painting with Valentine the Clown and 12:30pm – 2:00pm: Live Ice Sculpting demonstration with Ice Matters. Megan's Mom Quote of the Week: “It's Spicy, universal code for I don't want to share.”

Dateline: December 20, 2024. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start off with a quick update on my life, and a reminder about the upcoming holiday special! Our headline story this week looks at a new law that is looking like it will get passed in Canada. We look at both sides of the discussion, trying to figure out exactly what to expect form this law, and the effect it will have on elephants and great apes in human care in Canada. We then move on to our births section, including stories from the Duke Lemur Center, Auckland Zoo, the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, the Dallas Zoo, and Dickerson Park Zoo. We also say goodbye to some incredible animals from Zoo Miami and the Houston Zoo. This section starts with my tribute to a beloved sea lion that called The Aquarium of Niagara home, Mia. It's a loss that hurts a lot.  We then move on to our other Zoo News stories.  We talk about how Avian Influenza has caused multiple losses at Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium, update the SeaQuest situation, share some amazing conservation work done by the Auckland Zoo, SeaLife Sydney, and the Toronto Zoo, talk about an amazing veterinary tool being launched by Brookfield, Columbus, San Diego, and other facilities, and talk about an amazing story out of Mystic Aquarium. In Conservation News, we share about how a small grey seal population has doubled in the UK, an incredible technique to help save shark embryos found in deceased mothers, a study detailing the effectiveness of beehive fences in Africa, and how the US Congress has come together for a conservation cause.In Other News, we share a shocking story about the bald eagle. ROSSIFARI LINKS: patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok 

Things get a little wet and wild in this one. Join us as we explore Mystic Aquarium! Come back again next week as we venture into Mystic Village. ___ Thanks for listening to today's episode! Come back again soon for more great CFNC content and check out whatever we are up to now at the link below! If you enjoyed today's episode, share it with a friend and rate us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/cfncpodcast --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cfnc/support

Dr. Naomi Rose from the Animal Welfare institute joins the show to talk about the fine Mystic Aquarium must pay because of the 3 beluga whale deaths See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chris takes the mic solo to sits down with Katie Corcoran, the brilliant mind behind the wildly successful "Rhode Island Native" account. We dive into the backstory of Rhode Island Native, discussing what sparked Katie's journey into content creation and her passion for showcasing the charm of Rhode Island. Katie opens up about the tricky balance of maintaining her creative side while juggling a full-time job. We also tackle the rollercoaster of being a content creator, from handling internet trolls to unforgettable moments like playing with penguins at Mystic Aquarium.   Read about Katie on HeyRhody.Com   Interested in advertising with Hey Rhody Media Print or Digital offerings send us a message Mail@HeyRhody.com    Stay Connected with Katie: @rhodeislandnative    Stay connected on Instagram: @HeyRhody | PVDMonthly | So_RI | @thebay_mag Jenna: @jennnaaakap @littlecityco   Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast! Chris: @letschatrevill  @letschatpodcasting

This week, Brian encountered a group of loud perverted people at a restaurant with his Sweet Wonderful Michaela and they saw protesters that wanted to drain the tanks of Mystic Aquarium in order to kill all the fish. Then he and Frank talk about weird porn, falling down the stairs, GPS sharks, their upcoming lego convention, and Brian wrote some more jokes for French comedian Francois Do'es. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL LINKS: www.StonerDadPodcast.com SUPPORT the podcast by joining our Patreon and get access to a special extra episode a week! www.patreon.com/StonerDadPodcast BREAKING NEWS - MANSCAPED® NOW SELLS BEARD PRODUCTS!!!!! That's right. Manscaped once again revolutionizing Men's grooming! MANSCAPED® now has beard products and now their brand new BRAND NEW Weed Whacker 2.0! If you haven't already heard, the leaders in below-the-waist grooming are traveling north of your south pole with their revolutionary Beard Hedger Pro Kit. Plus they've now launched the BRAND NEW Weed Whacker 2.0, which confirms they have all of the best tools for your hygiene tool box. Time for you to upgrade your toolbox by going to www.Manscaped.com and using code WICKED for 20% off and free shipping. FOLLOW STONER DAD PODCAST! IG: https://www.instagram.com/StonerDadPodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/StonerDadPodcst FB: https://www.facebook.com/WickedFunnyPodcast Follow Brian: IG: https://www.instagram.com/beaudoinbrian Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/beaudoinbrian #Comedy #StandupComedy #Podcast #Funny #420 #Stoner #RIComedyConnection #Mystic #MysticAquarium #BlackFish #Lego

Meet a soft and flabby wonder with the smallest brain-to-body weight ratio of any vertebrate and a name that's bound to stimulate conversation. Two guests deep dive into assfish territory with us: Peter Auster from Mystic Aquarium and the University of Connecticut, and Brittany Peterson from our National Conservation Training Center (and formerly with the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument).

Dateline: March 8, 2024. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!  We yet again open with a big headline, this time diving into the announcement that Miami Seaquarium is being evicted.We then get back on track with our births and deaths. Births include emperor tamarin babies at the Dallas Zoo, fat tailed dunnarts at the Adelaide Zoo, chameleons at Fort Worth Zoo, some new North American river otters at the Edmonton Vally Zoo, a new elephant at the Toledo Zoo, and a porcupine at Zoo New England! We also say goodbye to an ostrich at Lehigh Valley Zoo, a Stellar sea lion at Mystic Aquarium, a gazelle at the Akron Zoo, and a very sad story about two hornbills at the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo. We then move on to our other Zoo News stories, including the AZA removing unpaid internships from its Jobs Board, a new animal coming to the Maryland Zoo, renovations to the former giant panda habitat at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, a medical treatment performed at Woodland Park Zoo, a whale found in the wrong place by the New England Aquarium, why primate escapes are more complex to deal with than other animal escapes, an adorable raccoon story from the Toronto Zoo, and so much more! In Conservation News, we talk about how sea otters are helping save California coastlines, a huge conservation victory in Florida, a huge and shocking illegal wildlife trafficking arrest, and more. In Other News, we talk about the pain of a platypus sting and why the Bellagio fountains had to shut down briefly this week! ROSSIFARI LINKS: www.rossifari.com patreon.com/rossifari @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok

This week, it's Listener Appreciation Day! We read listener emails and find out Frank shit his pants and people are concerned! Brian had an issue ordering Chinese food for his dad and faced the Final Boss at his weekly Pokemon Tournament with his "United Wings" deck. We find out that our good friend and comedian Katie Arroyo is the new spokesperson for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The guys are sad to learn that Carl Weathers and Toby Keith passed away and commit creating a new Celebrity Death List. Then the guys get into some fan appreciation with a message from the listener about some crazy tipping at the Mystic Aquarium. Then Brian proposes a new name for the arena in Providence.  VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL LINKS: www.StonerDadPodcast.com SUPPORT the podcast by joining our Patreon and get access to a special extra episode a week! www.patreon.com/StonerDadPodcast BREAKING NEWS - MANSCAPED® NOW SELLS BEARD PRODUCTS!!!!! That's right. Manscaped once again revolutionizing Men's grooming! MANSCAPED® now has beard products and now their brand new BRAND NEW Weed Whacker 2.0! If you haven't already heard, the leaders in below-the-waist grooming are traveling north of your south pole with their revolutionary Beard Hedger Pro Kit. Plus they've now launched the BRAND NEW Weed Whacker 2.0, which confirms they have all of the best tools for your hygiene tool box. Time for you to upgrade your toolbox by going to www.Manscaped.com and using code WICKED for 20% off and free shipping. FOLLOW STONER DAD PODCAST! IG: https://www.instagram.com/StonerDadPodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/StonerDadPodcst FB: https://www.facebook.com/WickedFunnyPodcast Follow Brian: IG: https://www.instagram.com/beaudoinbrian Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/beaudoinbrian #Comedy #StandupComedy #Podcast #Funny #420 #Stoner #SuperBowl #PropBets #Pokemon #UnitedWings #IBS #CarlWeathers #TobyKeith #CelebrityDeathList #MysticAquarium

Dateline: January 12, 2024. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!  We start with our births section, featuring two sloth bear cubs at Zoo Miami (with a Philly Zoo connection), an impala and kudu with adorable names at Caldwell Zoo, two little blue penguins at the Cincinnati Zoo, and a bongo calf at Brevard Zoo! We then go to our deaths, where we say goodbye to a lot of incredible animals this week. We start with Penny the red panda at the Akron Zoo, then discuss the loss of an elephant at the Los Angeles Zoo, a Canada Lynx at Seneca Park Zoo, a warthog at the Columbus Zoo, a serval at the Naples Zoo, a gorilla at the Henry Doorly Zoo,  and the last free roaming peacock at Point Defiance Zoo. We then move on to our other Zoo News stories, including an incredible mixed species exhibit, free admission to health care workers at Mystic Aquarium, a panda update from Zoo Atlanta, cyber attacks on the Toronto Zoo, unrest in Papa New Guinea (and why that applies to this section), and so much more! In Conservation News, we talk about a terrible new policy in Norway, a new Jaguar in Arizona, a new victim to H5N1, a huge success for Project Cheetah, and preparations for the Great Backyard Bird Count!And in Other News, we talk about a sad story out of California. ROSSIFARI LINKS: www.rossifari.com patreon.com/rossifari @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok

Dr. Naomi Rose joins the show to talk about the whales at Mystic Aquarium being sick See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dateline: August 18, 2023. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!  We start with an interview from a very special guest, Miles Rossi! We discuss an amazing experience Miles got to have this week!In Zoo News, we say hello to a new duiker at the Kansas City Zoo, a new prehensile porcupine at the National Zoo, five new panda cubs, and a baby snow leopard! We also say goodbye to Andy N. Condor, one of the most iconic ambassador animals ever, Lali the red panda, and others. We also talk about a new union contract and new leadership at the Philadelphia Zoo, the Young Explorers program at Roger Williams Park Zoo, the Women in Science Conference at Mystic Aquarium, an update on what will happen to former SSPs,  and so much more! In Conservation News, we talk about ocelot conservation, the winners of the Disney Conservation Awards 2023, what Connecticut is doing to help save horseshoe crabs, new threads from Red Panda Network, and more! And in Other News, we talk about pet alligators (AGAIN), a rise in leprosy, crocodiles being either great predators or really good moms, and peacock vasectomies, because of course we do.ROSSIFARI LINKS: www.rossifari.com patreon.com/rossifari @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok

Dateline: December 9, 2022. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!  In Zoo News, we talk about a very special trip to Mystic Aquarium, Rhubarb the sloth at Beardsley Zoo, changes coming to the Indianapolis Zoo, and more! In Conservation News, we talk about the passage of The Big Cat Safety Act in the Senate, how ebikes are helping save wildlife, the real effect of offshore wind energy production, and more!And in Other News, we discuss zombie viruses, a lost thylacine, and Jonathan, the old bisexual tortoise!ROSSIFARI LINKS: www.rossifari.com patreon.com/rossifari @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok

On this episode we do a double secret giveaway for tier 2 (Quinoa Salad) members (with AMAZING theme music composed by Fact Check Andy), and discuss the James Bond movies, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Roku, the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo, Book 4 of Rebirth of the Fallen by JR Konkol, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Knights of the Dinner Table, Cerebus the Aardvark, Eastman & Laird's TMNT, buying stuff on Kindle, Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Elvis movie, the Geekshock crew's real life Elvis stories, Smuggler's Cove by Martin Cate, Haggling at the Meepleville Board Game Flea Market, why you don't bring Vlarg to a car dealership, Merchants of the Dark Road board game, Cameron Diaz was apparently retired, our problematic IMDB, a star wars home theater that comes with a free mansion at Disney, The Electric State, the final season of See, Harley Quinn season 3, Top Gun: Maverick, James Rado, and whatever the hell you want us to doodle for you.  It's time for a gloriously Torgo-less Geekshock!

A new plan from the Biden administration puts ocean conservation at the center of its climate change response, with some help from Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium.

Here's the scenario...You're walking on a deserted Block Island beach and come upon a seal pup. It just seems to be laying there. Is it ok? Is it hurt? Is it sick? What exactly do you do?You call Sarah Callan, Mystic Aquarium's Marine Life Rescue Coordinator. Or you can just listen to our interview with Sarah where she explains how to tell if an animal is in distress or simply just taking a break from swimming around and catching food.In this delightful chat Rich and Marc learn all about the path Sarah took towards her latest position at Mystic Aquarium. Turns out it's an interesting one! Initially Sarah went all the way to Australia to play ice hockey but on the way back to the USA she took a six month detour to a deserted island off of Hawaii where she studied marine life.These days Sarah spends her time nursing everything from seal pups to manatees (yes, they sometimes make their way up to New England!) back to health. To say she loves her work is an understatement. And Sarah is ALWAYS happy to talk about some of the simple things we can do to help protect our environment and our underwater allies.

A new report details how Mystic Aquarium handled the death of one of the Beluga Whales. Of the 5 transported from Marine Land in Canada, only 3 are still alive in Mystic. Dr. Naomi Rose, Animal Welfare Institute, joined Gene  Friday morning to react to the report.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A second of five Beluga Whales has died at Mystic Aquarium. The whale was reported to have pre-existing conditions. What is the next step. Dr Naomi Rose shares her thoughts on the latest whale death at Mystic.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1. WICC turns 95! We paid tribute to the major milestone for the station. ((00:10)) 2. November marks pancreatic cancer awareness month. So, what is it and why is it so lethal? Dr. Richard Frank answered our questions. ((09:12)) 3. Two Fairfield teachers held at gunpoint sparked more conversation about youth crime in CT. ((16:20)) 4. STEM programs are being offered in partnership with Mystic Aquarium. ((32:25)) IMAGE CREDIT: iStock / Getty Images Plus

You're listening to the Westerly Sun's podcast, where we talk about the best local events, new job postings, obituaries, and more. First, a bit of Rhode Island trivia. Today's trivia is brought to you by Perennial. Perennial's new plant-based drink “Daily Gut & Brain” is a blend of easily digestible nutrients crafted for gut and brain health. A convenient mini-meal, Daily Gut & Brain” is available now at the CVS Pharmacy in Wakefield. Now for some trivia. Did you know that Cranston native, Thomas F. Healey was an American Major League Baseball player who pitched for one season. In 1878 he played with the Providence Grays and Indianapolis Blues. For his career, he compiled a 6-7 record in 14 appearances, with a 2.39 earned run average and 20 strikeouts. Now for our feature story: Susette Tibus was surprised one afternoon this summer to find Lisa Konicki, president of the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce, and Geraldine Cunningham, a longtime chamber member, standing in the doorway to her office at Simply Majestic jewelry on Williams Avenue. She was even more surprised when they told her why they were there: She had been chosen as the recipient of the 2021 Athena Award. "What?" Tibus asked, a look of confusion spreading across her face. "What do you mean?" Then Cunningham, smiling broadly, placed an enormous bouquet of flowers in Tibus' arms and announced she had been chosen for the honor because of her efforts in helping other women achieve leadership roles and for being such a stellar community servant. Tibus, who owns the jewelry store with her husband, Chuck Sneddon, has served in a number of leadership roles for local organizations. The Athena Award honors local women who have helped other women achieve leadership roles, excelled in their careers and been active in community service. "For once in her life she was at a loss for words," Konicki posted on Facebook shortly after Tibus let the news sink in. "Stunned and humbled ... off camera she attempted to divert attention from her contributions." Maria Pucci, the Ocean Community Chamber Foundation chairman said "Susette Tibus meets all of the criteria perfectly. She has given generously of her time and talents to mentor many women over the years and has also worked to create job opportunities and advancement opportunities for women. Her community involvement is nothing short of spectacular, with dozens of regional nonprofits owing a huge debt of gratitude to her." Among her many community service roles, Tibus has served on the boards of directors for the Westerly Hospital Foundation and the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, served as president of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce and chaired the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival. She has served as the vice-chair of the board of trustees for the Mystic Aquarium and has chaired both Stonington's Police Commission and the Connecticut Police Commissioner's Association. For more about the coronavirus pandemic, the recovery, and the latest on all things in and around Westerly, head over to westerlysun.com. There are a lot of businesses in our community that are hiring right now, so we're excited to tell you about some new job listings. Today's Job posting comes from Crimmins Residential Staffing in Westerly. A couple in Watch Hill is looking for a part-time housekeeper. Pay is $35 per hour and you'll work there 3 days per week in season and one day per week during the off-season. For more job requirements, check out the link in the description: https://www.indeed.com/jobs?l=Westerly%2C%20RI&mna=5&aceid&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpf2IBhDkARIsAGVo0D2S3gEb-328GyRpBuTTeeKPdn3-klOh0KYAsfete6MEZmI5S4qTg-4aAnQkEALw_wcB&vjk=028da372fc87d663 Today we're remembering the life of Fred M. Baker, Jr. of Charlestown. He was born in Providence and graduated from East Providence High School in 1955. A retired graphic designer and photographer, Fred graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 1959 with a BFA in Graphic Design. During his long career in Advertising Design, he had been employed by Horton, Church & Goff in Providence as an Art Director; and was the proprietor of FB Design, a freelance graphics studio in Providence for over 30 years. From 1989 until 2006, he was also employed as the Art Director/Photographer for Whiteco Outdoor, which later became Lamar Outdoor Advertising. Fred was a Past Master Councillor of Loyalty Chapter, Order of DeMolay in Riverside. He was awarded the honorary Degree of Chevalier and was an Advisory Board Member of Loyalty for many years. He had been an active member of the Rumford Lions Club, Providence Art Club, and the South County Conservancy, Inc. He enjoyed skiing, hiking, gardening, photography, traveling and birdwatching. Fred was very dedicated to the Episcopal Conference Center during his younger years. After the death of his mentor, ECC Administrator Canon Anthony R. Parshley in 1965, Fred co-chaired a fundraising effort and personally commissioned Norman Rockwell to sketch a charcoal portrait of him. Fred leaves behind 2 daughters, a son, a brother, five grandchildren, 2 stepdaughters and 4 step-grandchildren. Thank you for taking a moment with us today to remember and celebrate Fred's life. That's it for today, we'll be back next time with more! Also, remember to check out our sponsor Perennial, Daily Gut & Brain, available at the CVS on Main St. in Wakefield! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 80% of Connecticut restaurants report lower revenues than they did in 2019. Unvaccinated state workers in Connecticut could face unpaid leave, leaders from Mystic Aquarium make a trip to the White House today, and how's New York's new governor doing?

Sizzling Bacon, Marine Science Magnet School Magic, and Reef Tank Rehab: Annoyance Edition. This week we catch up with Jeremy and his mishap and Peter talks studio. All this and more on Episode 175 of the Reef News Network! Show Watch 2021 Reef-A-Palooza Chicago October 16/17 MACNA - Canceled Aquashella- Dallas October 30/31 Powered By: Top Shelf Aquatics: www.topshelfaquatics.com Fritz Aquatics: www.fritzaquatics.com ReefBreeders: www.reefbreeders.com Sicce: www.sicce.com/en/ Media Partners: ReefHacks: https://reefhacks.com Reefs.com: https://reefs.com/ Bahama Llama Coral: https://www.youtube.com/c/BahamaLlamaCoral Reef2Reef: www.reef2reef.com News: Peter- To the untrained ear, it might sound like bacon frying in a pan but, to fish, it is the alluring sound of a healthy home. Marine scientists are using underwater speakers to pump out the sound of a potential breakthrough. The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) is in a race against climate change, with bleaching, cyclones and crown-of-thorns outbreaks threatening reefs. https://bit.ly/RNNnewsPeter175 Jeremy- Linking the Next Generation to Aquaculture Science - To say that teachers faced a challenging two-years while pivoting to protect their students during a pandemic while innovating new educational models to keep them engaged and learning is an understatement. But the Marine Science Magnet High School (MSMHS, Groton, CT) accepted the challenge head-on. In partnership with Mystic Aquarium and the support of Connecticut Sea Grant, MSMHS Aquaculture Teacher Eric Litvinoff conceptualized and delivered an innovative model to keep his kids' hands wet while learning about aquatic husbandry in a hybrid teaching model. https://bit.ly/RNNnewsJeremy175 Main Topic: Perhaps another episode series in the making, today we're going over some of the things that we have dealt with in the past or may have to deal with in the future that can definitely be a real annoyance. Many people have to deal with these annoyances and find them to be some of the real low points of the hobby. We are talking standard issue ups and downs that we all will face in the typical lifespan of a tank. We will go over some ways to get rid of or cope with these annoyances. Let's rework systems, redo flaws and rehab the tank in general so we can refresh your enjoyment level! Outro: Please like our Facebook and Instagram pages as well as subscribe to the Podcast Reef News Network: www.reefnewsnetwork.com Reef News Road Trip: https://bit.ly/2LZfoKd . Instagram: ReefNewsNetwork Hashtags to follow #ReefNewsNetwork , #RNN , #RNNnation Listener Calls: Go to: www.reefnewsnetwork.com click the tab on the right side of the page to leave us a voicemail. Reviews/Ratings: Reviews and Ratings help us reach new heights and continue to produce quality content, let us know how we are doing.

Kaitlyn Mitchell is a lawyer for Animal Justice, a non-profit organization that looks out for the welfare of animals in Canada.  Website: https://animaljustice.ca/ Kaitlyn came highly recommended as someone to interview on the Canadian side of the border that is involved in advocating for the belugas in the transfer from Marineland (Canada) to Mystic Aquarium (US). I covered the original story by interviewing Dr. Naomi Rose (Episode 1197, https://www.speakupforblue.com/show/speak-up-for-the-ocean-blue/sufb-1197-havoc-the-beluga-whale-dies/). Kaitlyn provides us with an update on the beluga whale transfer as well as how we can make sure that bill S-203 (Canadian Cetacean Captivity Ban) can be made better to avoid needless deaths like that of Havok.  Kaitlyn also tells us about the dire situation with Kiska, an orca that has been recorded bashing her head against the side of her tank. We discuss what Animal Justice hopes to be done about the orca at Marineland.  Connect with Animal Justice: Website: https://animaljustice.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animaljustice_/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/animaljusticecanada Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakupforblue/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/speakupforblue

The federal infrastructure bill could help protect our region from future heavy rainfalls. Justice for a wrongly convicted Suffolk man, Mystic Aquarium shares good news about their sick beluga whale, and more on Ida's aftermath.

Dr. Naomi Rose from the Animal Welfare Institute joined Gene to discuss the treatment of whales at Mystic Aquarium, and things that might've gone wrong with them being transported to Mystic from Canada. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Naomi Rose joins me on the podcast with an interesting story that resulted in the death of a recently transferred beluga whale at Mystic Aquarium. The beluga whale named Havoc was transferred from the troublesome Marineland located in Canada.  Naomi describes how the process was flawed from the beginning including the fact that Havoc was sick before the transfer and Mystic Aquarium is known for research that showed cetaceans that are sick don't do well with being transferred.  This story highlights the problems with processes even though they are in countries that have animal welfare laws that are perceived as effective; however, you will find out that the processes need crucial improvements.  Link to article: https://www.treehugger.com/mystic-whale-beluga-whale-death-controversy-5197322 Connect with Dr. Naomi Rose: 1) AWI Website: https://awionline.org/ 2) Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/frdolphinPOV 3) Twitter: https://twitter.com/frdolphinPOV Check out all of our episodes on www.speakupforblue.com Want To Talk Oceans? Join the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group. Speak Up For Blue Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakupforblue/ Speak Up For Blue Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakUpforBlue

Dr. Allison Tuttle is the Senior VP of Zoological Operations at Mystic Aquarium. She talked to Sean about the wonder of aquariums, what all of us can to do help our planet, and the wild story of how five beluga whales came to Mystic this summer.

You're listening to the Westerly Sun's podcast, where we talk about the best local events, new job postings, obituaries, and more. First, a bit of Rhode Island trivia. Today's trivia is brought to you by Perennial. Perennial's new plant-based drink “Daily Gut & Brain” is a blend of easily digestible nutrients crafted for gut and brain health. A convenient mini-meal, Daily Gut & Brain” is available now at the CVS Pharmacy in Wakefield. Now for some trivia. Did you know that Colt State Park has 464 acres of lawns, four miles of paved pathways, hiking trails, historic stone walls, and one of the state's most spectacular shorelines? It's a favorite among visitors and locals alike. The park lies minutes away from the historic center of Bristol - which is actually home of the oldest 4th of July parade in the country. It's also adjacent to Coggeshall Farm Museum and the Bristol Town Beach and Sports Complex. Now for our feature story: Mystic Aquarium was awarded $6 million in relief funding through the American Rescue Plan. The funding came to the aquarium through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, which was authorized by Congress and supported by the American Rescue Plan Act. Created to provide economic relief to live venues shuttered by COVID-19 and administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration,iImpacted venues are able to put the relief funding to use in a variety of ways, from payroll costs, to rent and utility payments, scheduled mortgage and debt payments, worker protection expenditures, state and local taxes and fees, insurance payments, maintenance and administrative costs, and a wide variety of other ordinary and necessary business expenses. Connecticut Representative, Joe Courtney, helped create the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program when he voted to authorize $15 billion for the program. The act also authorized an additional $1.5 billion to assist shuttered live venues. Stephen Coan, president and CEO of the Mystic Aquarium said: "Mystic Aquarium is grateful to Rep. Courtney for his support and leadership throughout the pandemic. We faced an enormous financial challenge in 2020, as despite being closed to the public and not earning any revenue for several months, we still had the responsibility of caring for, feeding, and providing veterinary care and life support for more than 7,000 marine animals, including many federally protected and endangered species. That key responsibility, along with being the largest provider of STEM education in the State of Connecticut and the region's only federally authorized marine mammal rescue response team for much of Connecticut, New York State and Rhode Island, meant that we could not completely shut down operations." For more about the coronavirus pandemic and the latest on all things in and around Westerly, head over to westerlysun.com. There are a lot of businesses in our community that are hiring right now, so we're excited to tell you about some new job listings. Today's Job posting comes from Sea Bags in Watch Hill. They're looking for a part-time retail sales associate ideally with 2 years of retail experience and customer service. Pay depends on experience.. If you'd like to learn more or apply, you can do so at the link in our episode description: https://www.indeed.com/l-Westerly,-RI-jobs.html?vjk=2742aded61e027db&advn=8743562717035863 Today we're remembering the life of Joan Grace Alfiero, who passed away peacefully on July 11, 2021, after a valiant battle with ALS. She was the beloved wife of David Eilbott; mother of three children, and; sister to three siblings; and aunt to 12 nieces and nephews. She was born in Westerly, RI, and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Rhode Island, and the Physician Associate Program at Yale University. Early in her career as a PA, she cared for HIV positive patients at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, and subsequently decided to change specialties to become a pediatric asthma and allergy specialist working with Dr. Gary Wanerka at Branford Pediatrics and Allergy. Joan was adored by her family, friends, neighbors, and patients. She was a wonderfully empathetic listener who gave heartfelt advice and provided a needed shoulder for people to lean on in times of need. The family wishes  to thank all those who supported Joan and their family during these difficult past two years. We particularly wish to thank her internist Dr. Denis Miller at Branford Internal Medicine, her neurologist Dr. Merit Cudkowicz at Mass General Hospital, and Dr. Donna Criscenzo at VNA Community Healthcare and Hospice. Thank you for taking a moment today to remember and celebrate Joan's life. That's it for today, we'll be back next time with more! Also, remember to check out our sponsor Perennial, Daily Gut & Brain, available at the CVS on Main St. in Wakefield! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five endangered beluga whales have taken up residence at the Mystic Aquarium after a 22-hour trip from Ontario, Canada. You can now visit them in their 750,000-gallon simulated Arctic habitat in Mystic, CT. Joining Dan to discuss the importance of protecting the whales is Mystic Aquarium President and CEO Stephen Coan.

There are big problems in life and then there are champagne problems, you know....the kind that some people make a big deal of but really are not. We tackle those little issues as well as some other hot topics in this weeks episode (number 12) of Undebatable. This week Raylene leads us in exploring such topics as: Finding a "Hack" to extend your vacation time. and the issues that's on everyones mind.. Like food and alcohol companies and their misleading advertising and keeping big marine animals in captivity. Later in the episode we meet Lisa David Olson, Author of: Laughs on Wry. She is a humorist speaker, ice breaker queen and embarrassing mom. She sit down to discuss what life was like in an abusive home as a child and how that has shaped her into who she is today. Don't miss all the laughs and fun this week on Undebatable. We want to hear from you!! We love to interact with our audience. Please be sure to join the conversation and give us your thoughts on these hot topics. Tell us your thoughts on these Hot Topics Here: https://www.undebatable.show/champagne-problems/#commentsWe are so incredibly grateful and blessed to own our very own podcast studio! www.marinaviewstudio.comInstacart - Groceries delivered in as little as 1 hour. Free delivery on your first order over $35.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Undebatable)

National Parks Traveler’s Lynn Riddick connects with Dr. Tracy Romano of Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut to discuss the plight of beluga whales in Cook Inlet in Alaska and the threats they face, including the threats posed by the proposed Pebble Mine project.

Dr. Tracy Romano DTM is the Chief Scientist of the Mystic Aquarium. We discuss her journey to become a scientist, the exciting work she is doing, and the benefits of Toastmasters. To sign up for a Mystic Aquarium membership, visit https://www.mysticaquarium.org/visit/membership/ https://3756118.toastmastersclubs.org/ (Mystic Aquarium Toastmasters Website) Facebook page To contact the host, Michael Whitehouse, email michael@guywhoknowsaguy.com Credits: Theme song produced by Patrick Howard of Four Unicorns Design Woosh sound from Benjaminharveydesign https://freesound.org/people/benjaminharveydesign/ Pull quote music track from: https://www.bensound.com Mentioned in this episode: Network without talking to strangers Did you know that you can network without ever talking to a stranger? It's true. Networking is not about awkward conversations and elevator pitches. It is about making connections and creating value. I'll teach you how in a two minute video at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/innercircle Get my MP3 I have recorded my book in audio form. Get your copy for free at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com

Thieving fish, lonely eels and So I Heard You Want a Big Tank with Ryan Woods of the Mystic Aquarium. Jeremy is going overboard with equipment add-ons and decking out the frag tank. Peter is making progress on algae and knocking down TDS in his water storage system. All this and more on Episode 113 of the Reef News Network! RNN Listener Coupon Codes: Marine Depot 10% off your order REEFNEWS Reef Kinetics - $50 off ReefBot RKLOVESRNN Show Watch 2020 RAP Orlando - Sept 26/27 *New Venue Caribe Royale Orlando RAP New York - Dec 12/13 Greater Niagara - Sept 19/20 Powered By: Fritz Aquatics: www.fritzaquatics.com ReefBreeders: www.reefbreeders.com Sicce: www.sicce.com/en/ News: Jeremy- Japanese aquarium urges public to video-chat eels who are forgetting humans exist. When the garden eels at a Tokyo aquarium remove their heads from the sand, they are usually confronted by pairs of human eyes staring back at them through the glass. But like other animals around the world, the eels at Sumida Aquarium are finding their environment transformed by the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. They also appear to be forgetting what humans look like. Concerned that the garden eels so named because their grass-like appearance when, en masse, they poke their heads out of the seabed could come to see visitors as a threat, the aquarium is asking people to get in touch in the form of a calming video calls. https://bit.ly/RNNnewsJeremy113 Peter- Bioluminescence might seem uncommon, even alien. But biologists think organisms evolved the ability to light up the dark as many as 50 different times, sending tendrils of self-powered luminosity coursing through the tree of life, from fireflies and vampire squids to lantern sharks and foxfire, a fungus found in rotting wood. Despite all this diversity, the general rules stay the same. Glowing in the dark or the deep takes two ingredients. You need some sort of luciferin, a molecule that can emit light. And you need an enzyme, luciferase, to trigger that reaction like the snapping of a glowstick. Some creatures delegate this chemistry to symbiotic bacteria. Others possess the genes to make their own versions of luciferin and luciferase. But then there's the golden sweeper, a reef fish that evolved a trick that hasn't been seen anywhere else, according to a study published Wednesday in Science Advances: It just gobbles up bioluminescent prey and borrows the entire kit. https://bit.ly/RNNnewsPeter113 Tip of the Week: Black eggcrate is head and shoulders above white eggcrate for frag racks. It looks slicker and tends to grow less algae. Main Topic: So, I heard you want a BIG tank with Ryan Woods of the Mystic Aquarium. Outro: Please like our Facebook and Instagram pages as well as subscribe to the Podcast Reef News Network: www.reefnewsnetwork.com Reef News Road Trip: https://bit.ly/2LZfoKd . Instagram: ReefNewsNetwork Hashtags to follow #ReefNewsNetwork , #RNN , #RNNnation Listener Calls: Go to: www.reefnewsnetwork.com click the tab on the right side of the page to leave us a voicemail. Reviews/Ratings: Reviews and Ratings help us reach new heights and continue to produce quality content, let us know how we are doing.

The Director of Research for the Dolphin Research Center, Dr. Kelly Jaakkola is back describing a recent Connecticut bill intended to ban all relevant activities surrounding cetaceans living in human care. The bill's timing coincides with a federal import permit application by the state's only marine mammal facility, the Mystic Aquarium, seeking to add a handful of beluga whales born at a crowded facility in Canada. Mystic Aquarium has a well regarded rescue and research program for animals in human care and the wild so the bill's intent seems more concerned with ending public display rather than ensuring the best possible welfare interests of these animals. Not surprisingly, the bill's author has publicly denounced keeping cetaceans in human care and is a vocal member of an anti-zoo organization. That Sounds Wild: Red Foxes. Frank Buck Zoo Animal Care Software Peppermint Narwhal Zoo Logic Facebook The Rattlesnake Conservancy      

Amid the constant discussion of Connecticut residents leaving the state, the shoreline may soon be home to five new residents: Beluga whales. Mystic Aquarium has petitioned the federal government for permission to import five captive belugas to join its wildlife on display. Mystic says the move would help research to aid conservation efforts. But critics say the proposal is not only hazardous for the whales but also against US law. And later: as oceans warm due to climate change, what will the future of marine life conservation look like? Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. GUESTS: Dr. Tracy Romano - Chief scientist at Mystic Aquarium Georgia Hancock - Lawyer for the Animal Welfare Institute Zack Klyver - Marine mammal scientist, co-founder of Blue Planet Strategies in Maine (@KlyverZack) Chion Wolf contributed to this show, which originally aired December 19, 2019Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week I recap our visit to the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut! I share the stories about what we learned, the different backstories of the animals and some really cool facts about each of them. I also spend some time talking about how your patronage of these types of places helps the animals that live there, and I even get into a specific example when it comes to my Shark Fact. All this plus a preview of what's coming up next for this show and Throwdown Thursday! Thoughts, questions, comments, suggestions? Email me at SharkBitesPod@gmail.comSend us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/shark-bites/928b1d80-5512-4081-aacd-17387e791e3c

Episode NotesAccess all of the Curious Connections podcast episodes at http://www.patreon.com/swinchesterThis conversation is about recounting how a friendship with someone I never knew, started with a simple email asking, "So what does an exhibit designer do?"Larry Warner and I first met through that email in the late 90's and it developed into a friendship that has lasted to this day. We discuss how this connection impacted our lives and that even though our communication dropped for a time, we are still able to connect as good friends.Larry Warner is the Director for the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. His career in museums and aquariums spans 32 years, and he served as Exhibits Curator at the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island for more than six years. Most recently, he acted as the Director of Exhibits for Connecticut’s Mystic Aquarium, overseeing the development of numerous conservation-based exhibits.Shawn is on Instagram instagram.com/winchester.shawn and Patreon at patreon.com/swinchester.Follow Larry Warner and the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island: www.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-islandFacebook: www.facebook.com/NCAquariumRI/Music provided by: Scott Holmes at www.freemusicarchive.org

Amid the constant discussion of Connecticut residents leaving the state, the shoreline may soon be home to five new residents: Beluga whales. Mystic Aquarium has petitioned the federal government for permission to import five captive belugas to join its wildlife on display. Mystic says the move would help research to aid conservation efforts. But critics say the proposal is not only hazardous for the whales but also against US law. And later: as oceans warm due to climate change, what will the future of marine life conservation look like?Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mystic is part Stonington and part Groton. RT 2 travels from just outside of Westerly through Pawcatuck, North Stonington, Ledyard, Preston and Norwich, or southeastern New London County. Here is what is happening in the area! Catch the Sue Menhart Band live at Steak Loft on Friday, December 6 from 7-10pm. On Friday, December 6 at 7:00 pm, as part of this year's Stonington Village Holiday Stroll , the La Grua Center at 32 Water Street is pleased to offer a FREE concert featuring an ensemble from the U.S. Coast Guard Band! With dramatic performances of masterworks by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and Brahms, and exciting explorations of the works of today's composers, the Recital Series brings great music to life. Holiday Carnival at Olde Mistick Village takes place December 7 @ 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Live music, performers, pet photos with Santa, great gifts, and more await at this great winter tradition! 12pm-3pm Pet Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Raining Cats & Dogs. Windharp, Comedy Jugglers, Festival Brass Ensemble at the gazebo, the Vince Thompson Band and much more will be happening at Olde Mistick Village. Lantern Light Tours at Mystic Seaport are on December 7 @ 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm. For the 40th Anniversary of the Museum’s Lantern Light Tours, tour-goers will immediately recognize the influences of that most Victorian of Christmas tales, Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. They are asked by Mallory’s Ghost to help save his partner, Mr. Blackburn, from his miserable, loveless life, which will in turn save Greenmanville in the Seaport. On December 7 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Mystic Aquarium lights up during Northern Lights. A sea of lights leads the way through a mesmerizing journey along the Aquarium’s outdoor pathways. See Arctic animals in a whole new light – quite literally – as you stroll to theatric music. An alfresco experience unlike any other, Northern Lights is sure to be special. See you under the stars! Break the industry standard and test your skills at the Next Top Model! On Saturday, December 7, 2019, Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods and John Casablanca's Modeling & Acting Agency are looking for the next top model! Registration begins at noon near Nike. The search is open to all ages 4 years and older. Enjoy fashion shows throughout the day starting at 1 PM featuring local models from John Casablancas and fashions from Tanger Outlets. Breakfast With Santa on Sunday, December 8, 2019 from 8:30 - 11:00 AM at the Westerly YMCA on High Street. Enjoy a warm breakfast with your family, take part in seasonal crafts and share your holiday wishes with Santa! Proceeds will go to benefit the YMCA Leaders Club. The Leaders Club will also be collecting gently used coats, hats and gloves during the event. Brunch with Santa on Sunday, December 8, from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST at the Ocean House. It’s never too early to spend time with Santa! Santa will visit with families during Brunch and be available for photos. Santa will also distribute red noses for wearing. For reservations, call 888.853.2919. Party of 12 Annual Celebration is at The Velvet Mill and is sponsored by the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce. It is Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 6:00 PM. This festive affair features an open bar and food from a variety of local restaurants. The evening will begin with a performance by the Ledyard Carolers, and will continue into the night with DJ Power Posse and a performance from violinist Big Lux. Cocktail attire is requested. Contact the Chamber at Kearney@mysticchamber.org for details! That is the schedule of events for the area surrounding Mystic 2 Westerly, brought to you by Bridget Morrissey.com and produced by mobilechats.us. Happy Holidays!

For more than 45 years, the Mystic Aquarium's Sea Research Foundation has worked to protect marine mammals. For example, full-time scientists conduct global research with beluga whales within a larger set of marine science research and educational programs. The need for ongoing basic research is urgent. A recent scientific report by the United Nations warns that more than one-third of all marine mammal species are now threatened with extinction. Belugas in some parts of the world, including Alaska’s Cook Inlet, are considered endangered or depleted.   To support current and future studies, Mystic Aquarium’s Sea Research Foundation has submitted a research permit application to the US federal agency (NOAA Fisheries) with oversight responsibility for cetaceans to re-home five beluga whales born at Marineland Canada to the aquarium's world-renowned Connecticut care facility. Dr. Tracy Romano, VP of biological research and chief scientist discusses the permitting process and the need for ongoing conservation research into beluga behavior and physiology in response to growing anthropogenic stressors like ship traffic, noise, pollution, and degrading habitats.   Listeners are encouraged to read the application and to submit supportive comments in favor of NOAA granting the permit during the public comment period through early December. https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2019-0113     Plus, American Humane shares an update on the work of their emergency teams from the hurricane-devastated Bahamas.    And, an all new That Sounds Wild: baby squirrel monkey.  Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium.   animalcaresoftware.com peppermintnarwhal.com   FB Zoo Logic podcast www.iReinforce.com      

Mystic is part Stonington and part Groton. RT 2 travels from just outside of Westerly through Pawcatuck, North Stonington, Ledyard, Preston and Norwich, or southeastern New London County. Here is what is happening in the area! Join the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce with Guest Speaker, Eric Gjede, VP of the CT Business & Industry Association, Government Affairs office on Tuesday, October 8th from 7:30am - 9:00am for a summary of the Paid Family Medical Leave Act going into effect in the coming year and a preview of the 2020 State Legislative Session. The event will be held at New London County Mutual Insurance, 101 High Street, Norwich, CT 06360. Pre-registration is required. GMCC Business After Hours - Stony Creek Brewery @ Foxwoods Resort Casino on Tuesday, October 8,from 5:30 -7:00 pm. Valet or Self Park at Fox Tower, Follow signs for Fox Theater, Stony Creek is in the "Fox Theater District" . It is a Monthly networking event, the Public is welcome, for Food, Drink & Prizes, Members $10, Guests $20. Bring a prize and get an Admit One coupon for the next Business After Hours ThisisMystic.com is reporting that you’re invited to join Mystic Aquarium and community partners for the Mystic Wide Clean-Up – a town-wide, large-scale debris removal event. Our goal is to remove more than 500 lbs. of debris from areas throughout Mystic, and we need your help! Taking place at 2 sites in Mystic, CT over a six-hour period, participants can choose to help out at one site for just a few minutes or spend the whole day cleaning up the town. Each site will be completely stocked with safety and cleaning supplies, the only missing piece is you! Date: Saturday, October 12, 2019 Time: 10:00am-1:00pm Meeting Location: Mystic Aquarium’s Front Gate Cleaning site: Coogan Blvd & Jerry Brown Road Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm Meeting Location: Mystic River Park Cleaning site: Downtown Mystic Nautical Nightmares at Mystic Seaport Museum is an approximately one-hour tour that covers a 1/3 - 1/2 mile of uneven terrain including cobblestone, wood planking, grass, gravel, and stairs. Audience members walk or stand for the majority of the show. Because performances occur in all weather conditions, we strongly recommend the use of seasonal outerwear and appropriate shoes. Performances of Nautical Nightmares require a special ticket in lieu of general admission. Contact Mystic Seaport Museum at https://www.mysticseaport.org/ for more information. The Connecticut Airport Authority and the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition present “Open Spaces” a celebration of our beautiful coastline, featuring the paintings of four local artists, Susan MacKay, Liz McGee, Mark Patnode and Susan Stafford. Join them at the Groton New London Airport for an opening reception on Oct. 10 from 5:00-7:00pm with comments from artists and coordinators. The airport terminal is open daily from 7 am to 6 pm for public viewing of the exhibit. Parking is free and easily accessible. The exhibit runs through through December 16. Nakai Northup, a museum educator at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, will speak to the traditions, culture and food of the Pequot community at the LaGrua Center 32 Water St, Stonington on Thursday, October 10, 2019 @ 6:00 pm. For more information contact the Stonington Historical Society at 860-535-8445. That is the schedule of events for the area surrounding Mystic 2 Westerly for the week of October 6. Be sure to join www.facebook.com/groups/mystic2westerly/and post your upcoming event a week in advance to get it mentioned on the podcast. Mystic 2 Westerly is brought to you by Bridget Morrissey Real Estate brokered by eXp Realty and produced by mobilechats.us.

Joanne Freeman of Yale joins us to discuss a long-lost letter from Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Quinn of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine finds that dogs are the best cancer-detectors, Sam Payne stops in to share a story. Janelle Schuh of the Mystic Aquarium rehabilitated a lost seal. William Parker of the Duke University School of Medicine connects acetaminophen to autism. Robert Dziak of NOAA explains why the ocean is a noisy place.

STEAM Box visits Mystic Aquarium to learn from our partner Mary Ellen Mateleska. Pardon the sound as we are mobile in our most echoey underwater location yet!

We got to chat with Dr. Brandon Peecook, the Meeker Postdoctoral Fellow at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. His research includes the earliest known relatives of dinosaurs. He's been on expeditions in Africa, Antarctica, and all around the U.S., and in 2015, he published the first account of a dinosaur in Washington state. Follow him on Twitter @_gondwannabe_. In the news: A new megaraptoran dinosaur named Tratayenia rosalesi was discovered in Patagonia; Luxembourg has another dinosaur find, this time a middle Jurassic thyreophoran; The Dinosaur Discovery Gallery in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia may close after losing funding; Mystic Aquarium in Stonington, Connecticut will have a new exhibit: Jurassic Giants: A Dinosaur Adventure; Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY is getting a new exhibit called Dinosaur Invasion: 101 Days of Dinosaurs; The Sinclair dinosaur sculpture in La Vista, Nebraska has been removed; A six foot inflatable T. rex sprinkler is for sale; and Jurassic World Evolution (the new park builder game) release date announced. Dinosaur of the day Metriacanthosaurus a Sinraptorid that lived in the Jurassic in what is now England. This episode is brought to you in part by TRX Dinosaurs, which makes beautiful and realistic dinosaur sculptures, puppets, and animatronics. You can see some amazing examples and works in progress on Instagram @trxdinosaurs And by  the Royal Tyrrell Museum, which is located in southern Alberta, Canada. Right now they are hosting their free-to-attend Winter speaker series (also on YouTube). More information can be found at tyrrellmuseum.com To get access to lots of patron only content check out https://www.patreon.com/iknowdino. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Metriacanthosaurus, more links from Brandon, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/metriacanthosaurus-episode-175/

Dr Andrea and Eva are joined by special Guest Dr. Allison Tuttle from the Mystic Aquarium. New exhibits and the mission of the aquarium were discussed along with listeners medicine questions.

Prof. Peter Auster, Senior Research Scientist at Mystic Aquarium and Research Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut. The #coral canyons and #seamounts just 150 miles off the coast of New England are in need of protection