Guapo is the largest sea turtle ever rescued by the Texas State Aquarium. Go behind the scenes to learn about all of the creatures at the aquarium with daily live feeds on Facebook. Feeds begin at 11:50 a.m. and last about 25 minutes. Courtesy photo
Even though you can’t go to the Texas State Aquarium right now, you can still enjoy the exhibits one at a time daily. Closed due to city and county COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, the aquarium is posting daily live streams at 11:50 a.m. on its Facebook page.
On Thursday, March 26, the aquarium showcased its "bachelor pod" of four dolphins during a training session. The day before, viewers got to meet the aquarium’s octopus up close and personal. The Aquavision streams last about 25 minutes each.
Another Aquavision webinar featured Guapo, the largest sea turtle ever taken in by the Texas State Aquarium. Found stranded at Padre Island National Seashore, the 205-pound turtle was entangled in fishing line, causing him to lose his right-front flipper. He is currently recovering at the Wildlife Rescue Center.
By the way, "guapo" means handsome.
Browsing around on the aquarium’s Facebook page is a great way to entertain yourself while preventing the spread of disease. Short videos of many of the attraction’s creatures have been posted, including of sea turtles, sloths, and crabs.
Another good pastime is visiting the aquarium’s website and building a wish list of which exhibits you most want to see. Maybe even plot your next visit. It’s a great way to look forward to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currently, the aquarium expects to reopen to the public April 18. While closed, essential staff will be on hand to care for the animals. Tickets purchased in advance are being refunded. Call 361-524-4066 or 361-881-1340 to inquire about tickets.
