Third Oldest Marine Animal Park In The World Offers Up Close Adventures With Variety Of Beautiful Animals In Florida
On the Western edge of the Florida Panhandle lies a 100-mile stretch of beaches known as the Emerald Coast. Situated in the middle of this shoreline, not far from Pensacola, lies a fishing and resort community called Fort Walton Beach. Known as a vacation spot for families, spring breakers, and snowbirds, this small community is also home to the third oldest marine animal park in the world: the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.
The Gulfarium opened under the guidance and vision of marine researcher JB Siebenaler. “Brandy”, as his friends and family called him, had an idea to create a research facility along the Gulf of Mexico with a very simple mission; “to educate, entertain, and inspire guests to respect and preserve wildlife by providing unique and memorable experiences for visitors of all ages to connect with marine life.” He wanted to design a facility where people could experience personal interactions with marine life that would educate them and empower them to help preserve this precious resource. In 1955 his vision became a reality and the Gulfarium opened its doors to the public, charging adults $1 and children .50¢ to enter. The ultimate mission: to make the visitor love their animals.
Today the mission of the Gulfarium is as true to Brandy’s original idea as ever, perhaps even more so. Close-up animal encounters were added in 2012, allowing visitors to interact with penguins, rays, turtles, otters, even sharks. Krista Stouffer, who not only works as the facility’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator but also co-authored a book about the history of the Gulfarium, is adamant that these changes are an extension of Brandy’s original philosophy. She states, “What separates us from other marine animal parks would be our animal interactions. Our hope is that allowing visitors to get up close and personal with our animals, to touch them, feed them, and get to know them in a way they can’t anywhere else, will help teach them to respect sea life and preserve it.”
One of the most popular animal interactions is the Stingray Bay Snorkel, a 60-minute program that allows participants to climb into a shallow tank and swim with dozens of Cownosed Sting Rays, Atlantic Sting Rays and even sharks! Terra Throgmorton has been the Gulfarium’s Senior Aquarist for the last four years. As one of the leaders of the Ray Encounter, she recognizes the importance of such a program. Terra points out that there is “a lot of misleading information about sting rays and sharks in particular. The general public is bombarded with the notion that animals like these see humans as food or threats thus they must attack us as soon as we stick a toe into the ocean. [However, through] our exhibits, chats, and encounters, we are able to show our guests these animals are not the villains they have been made out to be.”
Knowledge and understanding aren’t just about saving a particular species of animal from extinction either. It’s much bigger. Terra explains, “Due to a lack of understanding about these animals and the vital role they play in ocean ecosystems, many sharks and rays are killed out of fear and disrespect by both commercial fisheries and recreational fisherman. [If this continues] world shark populations could start disappearing [and] have significant effects on our ocean ecosystems. [The reasoning is that] sharks typically serve as the apex predator in marine food webs. If [they] are removed from the food web, it will cause a trophic cascade, throwing all the other levels out of balance. [This would] likely result in a total collapse of the ocean ecosystem.”
Both Krista and Terra have a similar passion about the work they do and that passion drives them to overcome the difficult job of caring for marine life. According to Terra, “The greatest challenge with all of this is the complexity of variables that we are constantly monitoring and adjusting. There is an inherently greater level of complexity maintaining animals in aquatic systems over terrestrial husbandry due to the fact that you not only have to care for the animals but the entire environment they are living in.”
But the opportunity for education far outweighs any difficulties, especially when the aspects of each of these individual animals and their personalities become apparent. According to Terra, “We have over 20 rays in the tank and despite how similar they all appear I can tell which one is which. I even have a favorite: Georgia. She’s normally shy so when she comes up to me it makes my day because she chose me to interact with. With our programs we are able to show [our vistors] how benign, calm, intelligent [and unique] these [animals] are”.
Krista’s personal favorite is Kaya, the bottle-nose dolphin born just a few short months ago. Krista explains, “I was lucky enough to be here when she was born so I have that connection. I’ve watched her grow and learn over the past year. That’s been really special.”
As part of the Alliance of Marine Parks and Aquariums, we voluntarily hold ourselves to standards which are higher than required by the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service,” relates Thorgmorton. “[As a result] the quality of care here at the Gulfarium is very high not only on paper…but in our hearts.”
Michael Quinn
A graduate of St. Louis University in Communications with a focus in Advertising & Promotions, Michael has worked for Blue Man Group, Oito Zero Oito and Counts Media among others. His interests include DJing and Lawn Mower Disrepair.
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