Tank Tales (Autumn 2012)Members' Newsletter

The team at Reef HQ Aquarium would like to wish all our members a safe and happy Easter.Sandra Fisher l Reef HQ Aquarium Memberships Officer

P.S. Reef-In-Store has some great gift ideas to make your Easter gift giving easier! - Phone 4750 0875P.P.S. From Saturday 31 March - Sunday 15 April received 20% OFF your purchases when you present your Reef HQ Membership Card! (excludes post office and items on sale).prp

Rainforest to Reef - it’s all connected!

Even though the rainforest and reef may seem very far apart, these two ecosystems are very much connected. Much of what we do on the land, affects our freshwater waterways, which in turn affects the sea and our Great Barrier Reef. Both rainforests and reefs face many of the same threats from human activities and we will explore how we can protect these two very important delicate ecosystems and the connections between them.

See Hands on Wildlife at Reef HQ Aquarium From Monday 2 April to Sunday 15 April, 12.30pm to 2.30pm daily. It’s free with Reef HQ Aquarium general admission or membership – a $2 donation would be appreciated with all funds going to the Wildlife Carers fund.

The rainforest and the reef may seem like very different places, but these school holidays you can discover how closely linked they are. Coastal habitats such as rainforests play an important role in the broader ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef and the marine life that it supports. They are home to an amazing variety of animal and plant life and these school holidays you will get the best of both worlds!

The team from “Hands on Wildlife” is bringing some of the rainforest’s most spectacular animals to Reef HQ Aquarium. You will get the chance to come face to face with some of the rainforest’s most iconic wildlife.Be amazed by the bright colour of a green tree python, watch the cute and cuddly gliders snooze in their hollow log, and get up close to Australia’s longest snake, the Scrub python. And of course you will get the chance to touch and hold some of Hands on Wildlife’s friendliest animals.

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Date Claimer

24 June 2012

Billie: Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas (Age: approx 5 years)Billie was found at Shute Harbour with a hook in his mouth that was removed during surgery. An x-ray showed Billie also had an intestinal blockage, possibly caused by plastic as it was present in his faeces. He is fighting fit now, swimming in the deep off Airlie Beach.

Flip: Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas (Age: Juvenile)Flip was found floating at Cape Tribulation and transported to Cairns and then Magnetic Island before being admitted to the Reef HQ Turtle Hospital. After two months in our care the floating problem was resolved and he was tagged for release. Flip has recently made the long road trip home to be released by rangers at Cape Tribulation has been tagged and is now enjoying life on the back in the ocean.

Big Girl: Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas (Age: 35+ years)Affectionately known as ‘Big Girl,’ she came into the Turtle Hospital in October 2011 weighing in at 99kg! Since her admission she has put on a whopping 23kg. Big Girl was

found floating in Florence Bay at Magnetic Island and, due to her size, has had the luxury of having her own private quarters in which to recuperate. She became a main attraction for visitors to the Turtle Hospital and, although the team at Reef HQ will miss her tremendously, we are pleased that such an amazing animal has been nursed back to health and released back into the Great Barrier Reef. Big Girl has a satellite tracker so that we can all follow her progress.http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?keyword=Big+Girl

Buddie: Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata (Age: approx 5 years) Buddie was found floating at Forest Beach with a neck injury. He underwent surgery to repair his neck injury and his floating problem was resolved. He has been tagged and released and we hope enjoying a healthy diet of sponges and invertebrates - his favourite foods!

Turtle Hospital updateA new lease on life awaits four rehabilitated marine turtles

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Shark School promises to be cool this Easter at Reef HQ AquariumCruise into Reef HQ Aquarium these school holidays where we dive into the deep underwater world of sharks and rays.

Learn… some fascinating facts about these supreme marine predators.

Explore… Reef HQ Aquarium and go on the activity trail to find out more about the sharks and rays that live in the aquarium.

Join... in the fun and take part in our range of special “shark activities” just for the kids.

Shark craft... create your very own shark hat, freshwater sawfish and leopard shark egg to take home!

The School Holiday Program is available from Saturday 31 March to Sunday 15 April 2012, 10am to 12pm daily. It’s free with Reef HQ Aquarium general admission or membership – a gold coin donation is appreciated. Children must be accompanied by an adult and bookings are not required for groups less than 10.

Great Barrier Reef-urbishmentsIf you have visited Reef HQ Aquarium recently you will have noticed that work is a buzz, as part of a major renovation to existing and new exhibitions. Several areas have been cordoned off or are under construction as part of this makeover that is expected to be complete in the lead up to our 25th birthday celebrations in June. We look forward to unveiling the latest additions!

Research in the SpotlightThe importance of research in managing the Great Barrier Reef will be highlighted in a new exhibit currently being developed.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Reef HQ Aquarium, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University have teamed up to create a new Research Exhibit due for completion

in July 2012. The Exhibit aims to highlight the best practice Marine Park management is achieved when using the best available science.

Reef Research is important in delivering indicators of reef health and sustainable marine industries.

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In a complex engineering process a section of tunnel is being replaced. A section of tunnel is being shipped from a specialist supplier in Thailand and the installation involves building a dam inside the aquarium, pumping the space dry, replacing the damaged section, pressure testing the section and finally removing the dam.

The tunnel will be closed from April for up to two months to allow this to occur safely. The good news is you can still see the Predators Tank through the window in our threatre and the Coral Reef Exhibit is still open for viewing from many windows throughout Reef HQ Aquarium.

Out with the old and in with the new – our iconic underwater viewing tunnel is getting a makeover.

The talk on the Tunnel

Relocation of Coral to build dam

Replacement piece of tunnel

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The new colours exhibit will be specifically designed and stocked to showcase the beautiful colours of the corals and reef fish that attract people to visiting the Great Barrier Reef. This larger, new and improved exhibit will have a wider viewing window to provide a better vista of the beautiful corals and fish housed within and will allow for a fantastic photograph opportunity! The new design also incorporates a special viewing platform over the top which will provide a unique “snorkeler view” of the coral reef crest.

Preliminary design views for new Colours Coral Exhibit. The large viewing window will showcase the colourful coral reef community within the exhibition. The staircase will take visitors to an elevated viewing platform for “snorkeler view” of the living exhibition.

Showcasing the colourful corals of the Great Barrier ReefWe are excited to announce a new “Colours Exhibit” is being developed to showcase the Great Barrier Reef’s most colourful coral and sea life.