Primorsky Aquarium: 2022 highlights
The year of the Black Water Tiger was quite a tough year for us. But we all know that by overcoming difficulties we learn to appreciate every happy moment to the fullest. Now we would like to share our fondest memories from 2022.
Last February our aquarists successfully bred Tima formosa, a fourth species of jellyfish cultured at the facility. This cnidarian was first caught in Russia in 2021. Tima formosa is a species of hydromedusae – the group to which the clinging jellyfish (Gonionemus vertens) belongs as well – but unlike the latter, Tima formosa is harmless to humans.
On March 6 a spotted seal named Jupiter, who had been born at the Primorsky Aquarium’s marine mammal research facility, turned three. This baby is one-of-a-kind because he is the world’s first spotted seal conceived, gestated, born and reared in captivity. Now it is nearly impossible to tell Jupiter apart from his parents – he is plump and spotty just like they are. The seal adores playing with his trainers and enthusiastically offers his tummy for scratching. Due to spending most of his time with humans, Jupiter more readily interacts with them than his older counterparts.
On March 19 everyone’s favorites – our Baikal seals – celebrated their birthday. It was a special celebration for Alf because he turned ten. He enjoyed his first round-number anniversary party, accompanied by two six-year-old female seals – Businka and Tuchka. The trainers presented their furry charges with a fish cake.
Last May a significant paleontological find was made of two fragments of an ichthyosaur skeleton on Russky Island. On June 16, 2022, the fossils, estimated at roughly 230-240 million years old, were moved to the Primorsky Aquarium. Since finds like these are quite rare in the world, each of them attracts interest from a variety of specialists. The historical, scientific and social value of the find is also unquestionable – it confirms the fact that the place where Russky Island now lies was once covered by a sea seething with life. After being studied by scientists, the specimens will go on display at the Primorsky Aquarium.
On June 23 Mario, a talented northern fur seal, turned two. This baby pinniped is actively training to become a true star of the marine mammal presentation. The fur seal is a hearty eater, and he looks forward to every training session where he gladly performs.
In late July 2022, the Aquarium’s Dolphinarium witnessed a great event – the birth of two baby bottlenose dolphins. Now the calves are six months old, and they are happy to work with trainers – the young play with a ball and make high leaps out of the water, mimicking their parents.
These dolphins are not the only babies to have been born at the Dolphinarium. At the end of the summer in 2021, Jessica, a 14-year-old beluga residing at the Primorsky Aquarium, successfully delivered a calf. On August 1 of this past year, Kalina – the first baby beluga born at the Russian public aquarium – celebrated her first birthday. The young has not yet attained her adult coloration but very soon she will turn from gray to white.
Last August the world’s attention was drawn to the sculptures of gray whales surrounded by orcas, which hang from the ceiling in the Primorsky Aquarium’s lobby, when these life-size models were rated among the best in the world, according to a ranking by the news site Blaze Trends. The sculptures of a gray whale mother and calf pursued by killer whales were recognized to be among the most impressive whale samples, along with those at the American Museum of Natural History, Natural History Museum of London, Iziko Museum of South Africa in Cape Town and Whales of Iceland in Reykjavik.
On August 25 a baby zebra shark was born. This event became a valuable autumn eve gift for the Primorsky Aquarium. Since zebra sharks’ incubation typically takes about six months, the eggs deposited in the latter half of March were expected to hatch towards the end of September. However, the young turned out to be a hearty eater who made away with a food reserve from the egg case about a month earlier and went free swimming.
Eight young Humboldt penguins, first born at the Primorsky Aquarium, celebrated their birthday at the end of 2022. In 2021 as many as six penguin pairs produced chicks, and they’ve become healthy and strong birds now. Specialists from the Russian Union of Zoos and Aquariums (SOZAR) have admitted that the Primorsky Aquarium maintains high standards of bird welfare. They’ve also noticed that our penguin exhibit is quite suitable for king penguins, the most difficult penguin species to keep.
Finally, some statistics. Over half a million people visited the Primorsky Aquarium in 2022. This place has become a venue for dozens of cultural, sports and social events, including the II International Tiger Forum, the sports program of the VII Eastern Economic Forum and the VII Children of Asia International Sports Games.
The year 2022 has been full of significant moments. The new year 2023 is the Year of the Black Water Rabbit. With its more peaceful and patient energy, we are going to share a lot of marvelous events with our guests! And our exhibits are waiting for some exciting new arrivals from all over the world, too!