September 13th marks the 24th year since the founding of El Acuario, situated just one block from the Malecón and halfway between the Golden Zone and El Centro Mazatlan. More than 84,000 visitors enjoyed El Acuario exhibits during July-August of this season, and no wonder. Aquarium Director-Oceanographer Ignacio Velarde and staff are the dynamic force behind an ever changing, and yet constant array of beautiful, well constructed, and informative display settings that coalesce to make El Acuario a premier “living museum.” To anybody who hasn´t yet visited El Acuario, it has exotic tropical fish and crustaceans, all exhibited in their natural habitats, performing sea lions, performing parrots, an outstanding collection of sea shells, local fauna, and flora collected worldwide. Here’s some advice for those of you who may be tempted to say “Been there, done that.” You should consider packing up the family, and spending another half day or so at El Acuario. We guarantee a stimulating, delightful, and educational experience that will remain in your memories for a lifetime. Admission is 60 pesos for adults, and 30 pesos for children. In addition to the 200 species of fish in aquarium displays, El Acuario gardens host 20 species of birds, plus land and marine animals — reptiles, mammals, and amphibians — in addition to many hundreds of botanical specimens, most identified by placards giving the common name, Latin name, and country of origin. Some of the more recent innovative attractions include a life size rendition of Olive Ridley Turtle nests that even depicts the hatchlings’ frantic dash to the sea, a tide pool exhibit that enables you to see fish in their natural environment, life size models of sharks and marine mammals, an impressive display of Mexican folk paintings, sculptures and murals by local artists, and a huge viewing tank occupied by sharks and sea turtles which are joined by scuba divers during scheduled performance show times. Señor Velarde is justifiably proud of the shark-sea turtle viewing tank. The one ton 11' x 20' acrylic window was specially manufactured in Mexico City, and then trucked to El Acuario. The dimensions of the seamless viewing window that extends from 18" above floor level allows children to see the exhibit even while sitting on the floor. Artisans originally constructed a faithfully detailed coral reef in the viewing tank with fan corals, sea plants, anemones, sea urchins, and other reef creatures, built of plaster, ceramic and plastic, and all in living color. Everyone agreed the coral reef was an authentic depiction. Unfortunately, the sea turtles discovered the same thing, as they gleefully munched the exhibit down to bedrock. An innovation is now underway in which the coral reef scene is being painted upon walls and sea

floor of the viewing tank by local artists. The shark-sea turtle tank will be back in operation shortly. Señor Velarde, who has been the El Acuario Director since 1983 (except for a hiatus in 2000-2003), has an encyclopedic knowledge of El Acuario history, in addition to oceanographic lore, with special emphasis upon protection and conservation of all animal species, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. Pacific Pearl has previously published articles that tell about El Acuario’s extensive program to protect and preserve Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, whose foremost nesting area is Sinaloa State. El Acuario is also actively involved in other conservation programs including those for pelicans and ducks, most currently Pichichin Ducks. Pato Pichichin, or Pichichin Ducks are hatched on one of the islands just offshore to Mazatlán beaches. Their instinct is to make their way to Estero Camaron, where adult Pichichins adopt the newborns and nurture them until the ducklings learn how to fly. The immediate problem this time of year is the baby ducklings don’t know how to safely navigate across the busy Malecón to Estero Camaron on the other side. El Acuario has printed up and distributed “Se Busca” (“wan-ted”) posters, reminiscent of wild west outlaw “Wanted” posters, to advise the community of the ducklings’ plight and urge people to be on the alert, to care for and assist the newborns to their destination. The colored posters picture the buff and black colored ducklings with unique distinctive markings. Their coloring makes them appear to be miniature “bandits,” complete with a black mask, black hat, and even a black scarf around their necks. Señor Velarde related how El Acuario got into the performing sea lion program. In 1986, the aquarium obtained an injured and emaciated sea lion. El Acuario dutifully treated the sea lion until he regained a robust healthfulness, and then released him. Fine, except the sea lion apparently enjoyed his several months of free food no work regimen, and promptly returned to his friends at El Acuario. Señor Velarde petitioned the city for money to build a sea lion enclosure. City fathers turned him down, saying they had no money. Velarde hit upon a novel idea. He asked employees if they would be willing to loan their Christmas bonus money to the aquarium in order to build a sea lion enclosure. El Acuario employees agreed, and the sea lion enclosure was quickly built. City fathers immediately asked Señor Velarde where he got the construction money, and he told them. The city promptly arranged for a bank loan to replace the employees’ bonus money, and El Acuario paid off the bank loan before Easter. Subsequently, El Acuario obtained wildlife permits to obtain other sea lions, and in 1987 the enduringly popular trained sea lion exhibit began, and continues to delight visitors today. The Aquarium is open Tues-Sun, 9:30am-6:30pm, tel: 981-7851