While walking along the beach in the Clearwater area, it is not unusual to see dolphins flipping in and out of the water in a playful manner. On the east coast, we have seen sting rays all along the shore near the beach. Warnings were posted not to go in the water because of them. In the Palm Beach area the natives love to form organizations to protect the loggerhead turtle. In Florida, it is illegal to catch fish that are not of the proper size. Marine life along the coast of Florida is not only beautiful, but it is complex and controlled by law. Where can you go to get answers to all of your questions about these strange and marvelous creatures from the sea, and all the natural and state laws that protect them? The Clearwater Marine Aquarium! In tanks, close-up to the audience, volunteers and employees play with dolphins while they explain their habits. They let you pet a live sting ray (the sting has been removed) and have a show with a live loggerhead turtle while many local fish species swim in glass tanks with plaques that explain their habits and where to find them. There are also two river otters that are trained to dance on their hind feet, climb a ladder, and come down again. It's fun to watch as their sleek little bodies glide through the water as they swim.
The North American river otter was brought to the aquarium after they were stranded as pups. Without their mother they couldn’t survive, and once they had been raised in captivity, they won’t be able to survive in the wild. The dolphin show is with animals that have been rescued and are no longer able to survive outside the aquarium. All the creatures in the aquarium have been brought there after being rescued from trouble. The main function of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is to rehabilitate them and release them back into their natural habitat. Their rescues and rehabilitations usually make headlines to the delight of the proud marine biologists involved.
Written information on sea creatures and their habits are available in the gift shop, which also has toys and games for kids. The aquarium is right next to Clearwater Harbor, so it is possible to bring in very large sea creatures and care for them. The aquarium offers a Sea Life Safari and I will include another entry, in this journal, about that.