While we were in Charleston, SC, we spent two days exploring their aquarium. One of The Peanut's favorite things was getting to spend some time up close with the sea turtle in their big aquarium.
She absolutely loves sea turtles, and was thrilled that we could make a donation to the South Carolina Aquarium's sea turtle rescue program.
The above shot was taken on our first visit, while The Peanut and I were standing next to their big tank window gazing at all the fish and sharks. The sea turtle decided to come down and swim around right in front of us -- serious fun! -- while The Peanut just stood there staring at her completely mesmerized.
Here's a closer view of the sea turtle -- she cooperated and came in even closer while I was snapping a few pictures:
Turns out we had parked ourselves right by her favorite napping spot:
She settled in for a nap, having just surfaced to breathe. The Peanut was thrilled!
Can you see her shell at the bottom of the tank, just to the right of The Peanut? According to the aquarium volunteer who was standing near me as I was snapping pictures, that's her favorite rock to sleep on, and she naps there on and off pretty much every day. It certainly was fun for us to see her!
We went back a couple of days later. Due to some seriously rainy and cool weather in Charleston that day, an inside day of aquarium fun seemed like a really good choice for us.
We took a behind-the-scenes tour that was really fun. It included seeing the filtration system that they use for the big aquarium tanks in the exhibits. Whoa! Their filtration system is HUGE -- it makes our little ten-gallon fish tank look pitifully tiny. (and made me feel horrid because we struggle just to keep it clean with one humongous goldfish in it!)
The sea turtle surfaced while we were peering into the big tank:
Turns out the side on which we were all standing is where they feed the sharks when the divers go into the tanks. They had to build a special "time out" box for the sea turtle to rest in during that time because she kept stealing food from the sharks who couldn't do much with her given her huge protective shell -- she now has her own feeding time separate and apart from them.
Turns out she was a turtle rescue, too.
Some couple from Canada spotted her on the beach when she was just a tiny hatchling, thought she was cute and they took her home with them. She lived in their bathtub until she got too big, and then they had to call a wildlife group about what to do with her next. Canadian law doesn't allow sea turtles to be kept in captivity -- but because she had been captured as a hatchling and had no idea how to live in the wild, they had to find a rescue program to take her in...and that's how the South Carolina Aquarium ended up with her.
She was already so old by the time they got her that a release program was never going to be feasible for her, so they got permission to keep her int he large tank and that is where she has lived ever since. She's really beautiful, and clearly very feisty!
If you are in Charleston, SC, or near enough to drive over for a day trip, I highly recommend the aquarium. They have several touch tanks that are wonderful for younger kids, as well as a number of animal specialists that are out and about each day with live animals for kids to see and even sometimes touch. The Peanut got to touch a baby American alligator, a snake, some starfish, stingrays, and sea urchins, and got to see an American kestrel up close over the course of the two days that we visited.
And she loved every minute of it!
(All photos by Christy Hardin Smith. Taken with my Canon EOS Rebel T2i, using an 18-55mm Lens.)
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