Did you know tomorrow, June 8th was World Ocean’s Day? Since December 2008, this day has been officially recognized worldwide by the United Nations. It’s a great support to people and organizations who work tirelessly in ocean conservation. It seems especially important now, as the ocean, it’s in habitants and the coastline is very much on our minds.
This year World Ocean’s Day coincides with the 50th anniversary of the publication of Dr. Seuss’s book, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Join the Houston Zoo on Tuesday. June 8, and Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day for readings of Dr. Seuss’s beloved children’s book as well as special sea lion presentations and enrichment activities with denizens of the deep such as lionfish, eels, piranha, and the Houston Zoo’s resident oct
opus. Kids and families will get to know funny fish “from here to there” and learn how everyday actions impact their ocean home.
The the Ocean Project’s website said that the wealth of life in the oceans is so incredibly important for so many reasons:
* Each of us relies on a healthy ocean with a rich diversity of life to provide most of the oxygen we breathe, much of the food we eat, as well as medicines and other essentials that we need to survive.
*The ocean provides endless opportunities for inspiration and recreation such as diving, snorkeling, fishing, and boating. How much would you enjoy the ocean without its great diversity of life?
*The greater the diversity of life in the ocean the better job the ocean will do in helping maintain the planet’s normal climate conditions and in adjusting to a changing climate.
One way the Houston Zoo participates in ocean conservation is in our work with sea turtles. Our Veterinary Department examines and treats injured and sick sea turtles on the upper Texas Coast. Some of the injured sea turtles treated at the Houston Zoo take a mini-vacation at the Kipp aquarium until they are fully rehabilitated and ready to be released back in the sea or transferred to a permanent home. Come by and say hello during your next visit at the Zoo!
Baby Kemp ridley sea turtles make their way across the sand on Padre Island National Seashore to the life-giving ocean.
Additionally, one of our Conservation Department staff members conducts weekly patrols in Galveston during nesting season. During this 2010 nesting season 97 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast for Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. And there have been 11 on the upper Texas coast, including 5 on Galveston Island!
You can help sea turtles by picking up trash at the beach and by calling 1-866- TURTLE-5 if you see a dead or live sea turtle or nest when visiting Texas beaches.
To read more about World Oceans Day visit their official website at http://theoceanproject.org/index.php
Written by Rochelle Joseph
Photo credit: Thank you to PINS for Kemp ridley sea turtle and http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallthingsiced/ for the Seuss fish.
