G I V I N G  G I F T S 

Gift giving is fun.

Our Andean bears at the Queens Zoo get to unwrap presents filled with food treats from their keepers—a form of enrichment where our bears participate in the spirit of the holiday season.

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s parks—the Bronx Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and New York Aquarium (drop off at Tom’s Diner) are doing more than presents to the animals. We are accepting new toys to give to local veterans’ families in the Bronx and some communities hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy in the New York area. Gift donors will received a free ticket (click for details) to the Bronx Zoo.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

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H A P P Y  T H A N K S G I V I N G

A day to give thanks for family, friends, and that electricity has returned after Hurricane Sandy!

Our sea lions at the New York Aquarium (NYA) are happy that their homes are under restoration, even though the aquarium remains closed due to storm damage.

If you want to share your appreciation for the NYA staff, click here to add a photo or message.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

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#thankuaq

The Wildilfe Conservation Society’s (WCS) New York Aquarium (NYA) staff has been working non-stop to care for our marine animals including walruses, otters, sea lions, and seahorses that were effected by Hurricane Sandy.

Want to tell them yourself that they are doing a great job?!

The WCS web team has created a share page where you can send photos, drawings, and thoughts of thanks and inspiration to the NYA as they continue to restore the entire facility.

Click the thank you link below and use Instagram, Facebook, Email, or Twitter

THANK YOU AQ

#thankuaq

Photo credits: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

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B E R N I E

Another animal hero of Hurricane Sandy is Bernie, the harbor seal. He weathered the storm with water-mates Coral and Nixon in the Sea Cliffs exhibit at the New York Aquarium (NYA.)

In nature, harbor seals live on the rocky edges of the world’s northern oceanic coastal waters where they can find protection from predators and weather.

Bernie and his seal friends continue their day-to-day activities with their keepers and trainers at the NYA as rebuilding progresses.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

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R E B U I L D I N G  T H E  N E W  Y O R K  A Q U A R I U M

Another photo assignment on Friday to cover Hurricane Sandy rebuilding efforts at the New York Aquarium NYA showed me that we still have spirit, but a there is still a long way to go for both the facility and the staff.

Some areas are progressing with rebuilding under generator power.

Even though the NYA remains closed, keepers and trainers are working hard to keep the marine mammals and other animals on schedule with regular feedings and enrichment (toys and other items that stimulate behavior.) It is an amazing feat considering some of them lost everything in the storm.

To help us with restoration efforts, click here.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

 

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N O R’ E A S T E R

The second storm in two weeks is challenging our New York area.

I am worried that our waterlogged New York Aquarium (below, I am inside looking out at a harbor seal) will get hit again by a Nor’easter. Not good timing, having just pumped out from Hurricane Sandy.

As snowflakes are pelting down now and rain is forecasted to fall with it, I am thinking of my friends at the aquarium and hope that this one passes them by.

Be safe.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

 

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R E B U I L D I N G   M I T I K ‘ S  H O M E

All 14 acres of the New York Aquarium (NYA) were under water during Hurricane Sandy.

As the flood waters rose, the NYA staff worked tirelessly to care for our animals, including our newest member, Mitik, the orphaned walrus calf. He weathered the storm without incident.

If you’d like to help rebuild Mit’s home, the NYA, go to newyorkaquarium.com for details.

I hope my photos of Mit will keep him in your hearts and minds.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

Source: wcs.org

 

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P U M P I N G  O U T  A F T E R  H U R R I C A N E  S A N D Y

The New York Aquarium (NYA) was hard hit by Hurricane Sandy as huge waves of water filled its buildings and destroyed their systems.

Pumping was underway as I donned waders and went into some of the worst-hit exhibits with our hard-working NYA staff. The water from the storm had been to the ceiling and was knee-deep as of yesterday.

I shuffled along in the murky water with no power or lights (trying not to drop my camera) knowing assignments like this are important to inform our staff and the public of conditions in the aftermath of this powerful storm.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

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H U R R I C A N E  O N  T H E  H U D S O N

Hurricane Sandy shut down and moved everything around me including the docked boats AND the docks near the Tappan Zee Bridge in Tarrytown, New York. The waters came up river so high and fast that the vessels self-launched ending up in the baseball fields north of their winter docks. The docks themselves buckled and others sunk completely.

Our entire area is suffering with no power, little water, and no transporation. Luckily, there was no serious damage at four of the five wildlife parks where I work. The New York Aquarium is under water, though, having taken the crush of the storm at Coney Island. I hope for the best for them. I go to shoot there tomorrow.

Photo credits: Julie Larsen Maher

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M A R T H A  &  M I T

Photographing zoo and aquarium news is one of the great things about my job. New arrivals are at the top of that list.

Meet Martha and Mit (short for Mitik), a 242-pound bouncing baby boy.

Mit is a Pacific walrus calf that was rescued about five months ago off the coast of Alaska. Martha Hiatt, a member of the animal care staff at the New York Aquarium (NYA,) flew to Alaska to bring him to his new home at NYA. She is part of his team that gives round-the-clock care.

I met up with both of them when he arrived just in time for his bottle (and it’s a big one!)

Photo credits: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

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