This past weekend (4/22 - 4/24) UMAC took our Spring semester trip up to Toronto, our second international trip and first trip to Canada! We met up Friday morning and stumbled across Rho Rho Rho at the metro on their way to the airport for their trip to Chicago. We managed to immerse ourselves among the local Canadians shortly after landing with Tim Hortons and poutine. Saturday we woke up early to walk downtown to Ripley's Aquarium of Canada. Groups split up the following day to walk around Toronto visiting both the University of Toronto as well as the Royal Ontario Museum. We arrived bright and early for the 9:00 am opening time at Ripley's Aquarium of Canada and were met with Earth Day events. Face painting, a mascot, and much more were only slightly out shined by the impressive combined freshwater and saltwater aquarium build in the main entrance. The first exhibit showed local freshwater species in a large wall sized tank. Delving further into the building, arguably one of the most interesting animals was found, a Giant Pacific Octopus. Moving around the tank, it was followed wherever it went by exited members. Moving further, down a ramp around circular tank the height of several floors, members peered into a tank replicating a kelp forest. Eventually we stumbled upon the main attraction, the moving walkway encircled on both sides by a huge tank holding all variety of animals including a sea turtle, sawfish, and a variety of sharks. Some members had fun crawling through an interactive exhibit which featured no less than four species of sharks. A large central area contained a number of interactive elements which appeared to provide great educational opportunities for both younger visitors and older as well. Following notable exhibits included a number of jellyfish tanks, a behind the scenes look at how the aquarium's tanks are run, and a large exhibit containing southern stingrays, cownose rays, and bonnethead sharks. Members enjoyed an educational talk about the exhibit as well as watched a feeding of some of the southern stingrays. On the way out the group was presented with great views over both the ray tank and the larger tank that members had previously walked under.
1 Comment
10/1/2017 01:05:23 pm
Reading the article has made me clinging to visit the Ripley's aquarium. If I visit Canada, I will surely have a go there! Excellent writing! Love the pictures and there amazing collection of livestocks!
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