The Dallas World Aquarium has always been committed to various projects with other zoological institutions. During 2006, the aquarium hosted several colleagues from different fiedls.

The Dallas World Aquarium has always been committed to various projects with other zoological institutions. During 2006, the aquarium hosted several colleagues from different fields.

In September, Judy Arroyo and Francisco Arroyo Murillo returned to DWA to visit Leno, Samba and Bella, the Three-toed sloths. Judy and her husband Luis are the founders of Aviarios del Caribe, the former home of our sloths. Francisco is the Chief Veterinarian at the facility. Located in Limon, Costa Rica, Aviarios del Caribe is the only rehabilitation center in the world dedicated to sloths. The Dallas World Aquarium is working with the facility in the captive husbandry of the Three-toed sloth. Judy and Francisco visited in order to assess the condition of the sloths and directly observe our protocols.

In December, we had the opportunity to host Janet Sandi, one of the Costa Rican veterinarians associated with the Aviarios Sloth Sanctuary. Although Costa Rica is a country full of wildlife, their veterinarians have very little opportunity to work with and learn about that wildlife. Janet came to The Dallas World Aquarium to gain experience working with non-domestic animals, particularly those native to her country. She had the opportunity to be involved with the annual physical exams on the Cotton top tamarins, to be involved with the surgical correction of a fractured leg in an Ocellated turkey and to assist with a procedure to correct bumble foot in one of our Black-footed penguins.

A training program for employees of the Parque de Leyendes in Lima, Peru had been initiated in 2005. As part of the cooperative agreement, DWA provided travel and housing for various staff members of the Parque de Leyendes to study different aspects of zoo management in the United States. Two groups in 2005 (which included Leonardo Ojeda ZaZartu, Juan Choy Lui, Carlos Párraga, Enrique Gonzalez Castillo and Frederico Gutierrez) were accompanied by a DWA staff member to various zoos across the country.

Erika Zapater and Jorge Lindo Perez, also from Parque de Leyendes were guests for four weeks during July and August 2006. Although they visited various zoos throughout the state, they were more involved in the daily routine at DWA and were quite delightful and helpful while here. Erika is the nutritionist at the Parque de Leyendes and although Jorge cares for many animals, his passion is for their penguins. Erika was expecting her first child while here, actually her first children, as she is now the mother of twins "Lorenzo Gabriel and Esténo Michael who were born on October 26."

In August 2006, many members of the American Federation of Aviculture visited the aquarium. The AFA (a non-profit organization whose purpose is to educate the public about keeping and breeding birds in captivity) held its national convention in Dallas. Due to our large and unique avian collection, the DWA was a favorite stop for convention attendees. DWA staff members, Natalie and Josef Lindholm III presented papers at the conference. Some of the distinguished guests from the conference included: Tony Pittman (founder of the Blue Macaw Trust), Matthias Reinschmidt (Curator of Birds at the Loro Parque Zoo in the Canary Islands which has the largest collection of parrots in the world) and Jafet Velez-Valentin from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who manages the captive breeding program for the Puerto Rican Amazon Parrot.

Under the supervision of Josef Lindholm III, The Dallas World Aquarium currently houses the archives of the late Marvin Jones (1928-2006), former Registrar Emeritus for the San Diego Zoo and a prominent zoo historian. In September 2006, Richard Weigl from the Frankfurt Zoo visited the aquarium in order to study these records. Mr. Weigl (who previously co-authored with Mr. Jones, Longevity of Mammals in Captivity: from the Living Collections of the World), is currently working on Longevity of Birds in Captivity. Having visited hundreds of zoos around the world, Mr. Weigl provided a wealth of information to our staff.

The interchange of information can take many forms, but each results in the improved care and conservation of animals throughout the world.

On January 18th - 19th, staff member Luis Sigler had the opportunity to attend the "III Workshop for the Conservation of the Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius)", held at the city of San Carlos, in the Cojedes State of Venezuela.

On January 18th - 19th, staff member Luis Sigler had the opportunity to attend the "III Workshop for the Conservation of the Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius)", held at the city of San Carlos, in the Cojedes State of Venezuela. The workshop was co-organized by The Unellez University, The Environment Ministry (MARNAR), an ONG called FUDECI, The Wildlife Preservation Society and The Dallas World Aquarium.

Around 70 people attended and showed a lot of interest in protecting the Orinoco crocodile (or "Caiman del Orinoco" as it is known locally), one of the seven most endangered species of crocodilians in the World. The main goals of the meeting were to gather all the information about the species, to define new structures for conservation, to discuss the introduction program and to prepare a national strategy for the Orinoco crocodile in Venezuela and its action plan.

There were 15 lectures and four round tables. The lecture presented by Luis was entitled "Experiences with the Husbandry and Breeding of the Orinoco Crocodile at The Dallas World Aquarium." He also participated in the round table "Conservation ex situ." All the lectures had a great level of information and were accompanied by numerous slides which made them more attractive to the audience.

At the end of the workshop a national strategy was produced and will be sent to the authorities of the Environment Ministry, which is the highest authority for Conservation for the Venezuelan government. Some of the main points of the strategy are to: continue research on the ecology and status of the wild populations; promote the in situ and ex situ conservation; promote the diffusion on the knowledge about the conservation, environmental, economic and cultural values of the Orinoco crocodile; promote the community participation in the promotion and diffusion of the Orinoco crocodile conservation and increase the knowledge of the species in educational programs.

On Friday night a field trip was taken to the Cojedes River, one of the main locations for studying wild Orinoco crocodiles. They did a night survey on boats and captured eight wild crocs hatched in 2006, with Luis having the pleasure of recapturing a two-year old crocodile who was released eight months ago.

On Saturday and Sunday, Luis traveled to Hato Masaguaral, the pioneer facility for the conservation ex situ in Venezuela. The owner, Thomas Bloom, has done great work reproducing the species in captivity for some decades and sending young crocodiles for the releasing program in the country.

The DWA is the only facility outside Venezuela and Colombia (the only countries where the species is distributed) that has successfully bred Orinoco crocodiles. The attendees to this workshop were surprised to learn about the projects and results at the DWA. As part of the agreement with the Venezuelan government, signed in 1998, some of the hatchlings at DWA will go back to that country for release in the wild to help maintain the genetic diversity of the species, but others can be relocated to AZA institutions interested in the conservation of this species, and others could be sent overseas to European zoos that are also dedicated to the conservation of these crocodiles. Our first hatchling (named "Jump") is now on loan to the San Antonio Zoo where she is enjoying her new habitat. The San Antonio Zoo is also housing three younger crocodiles from the DWA and six are on loan to the Miami Metrozoo.

In 2003 we announced the forthcoming opening of a new exhibit housing Owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus) and tamanduas. The story behind the exhibit offers insight into the operations of a zoo and how priorities can change.

In 2003 we announced the forthcoming opening of a new exhibit housing Owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus) and tamanduas. The story behind the exhibit offers insight into the operations of a zoo and how priorities can change.

The Dallas World Aquarium was in the middle of a major expansion in 2003 - the building of Mundo Maya. The building of a relatively small arboreal exhibit appeared to be a small side project. However, the availability of animals to be exhibited in Mundo Maya necessitated the building of holding areas for the incoming animals. By the time the holding areas were completed, animals started arriving and Mundo Maya was in its final stages of completion. With the Owl monkeys and tamanduas living quite comfortably in their holding areas, the priority was the public opening of Mundo Maya.

It was during this time that the possibility of a unique addition to our collection appeared. We were approached with the idea of importing Yapoks (Chironectes minimus) also known as Water opossums. Since Yapoks have never been successfully housed in the United States, this required much consideration and research. Months passed as different aspects of exhibiting this species were studied - exhibit design, husbandry, availability, permitting, and AZA collection planning. Once it was concluded that it was feasible, the exhibit had to be redesigned to house both nocturnal monkeys and aquatic marsupials. This was a major change that required new architectural drawings.

Also during this period of time, the AZA New World Primate Taxon Advisory Group accepted a new classification for the genus Aotus, eliminating the species Aotus triviragatus. This had a major impact on the collection planning for the Owl monkeys at DWA. The new regional collection plan came out in 2005, instructing zoos on the future plans for Owl monkeys in AZA institutions. Although those at DWA were not recommended for breeding, they were still to be exhibited.

After construction on the exhibit was started in 2006, a group of Nancy Ma's owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae) became available. Although not recommended by the TAG, this group had a better long term outlook than our pair, considering our female, "Hootie" was nearing a longevity record at 27 years of age. The exhibit opened with one Southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla), a group of Nancy Ma's night monkeys and a pool for future Yapoks. The tamandua was removed from the exhibit after proving to be a very shy animal that preferred to remain in the nest box throughout the day.

The exhibit can be viewed on the second level of the waterfall bridge in the Orinoco rainforest.

The tale of the Ribbon seadragon began a very long time ago in the waters of North Western Australia, but has recently made its way to the shores of The Dallas World Aquarium in a very special way.

The tale of the Ribbon seadragon began a very long time ago in the waters of North Western Australia, but has recently made its way to the shores of The Dallas World Aquarium in a very special way.

Depicted as the rainbow serpent in Aboriginal art, drawings of the Ribbon seadragon, Haliichthys taeniphorus, first appeared in Arnhem Land rock art more than 6,000 years ago as the seas rose after the last Ice Age. Among the native Aboriginal people of Australia, the tale of the Rainbow serpent is best known from Arnhem Land.

According to George Chaloupka, the foremost expert on the rock art of Arnhem Land the Rainbow serpent can be described as follows:

"The belief in the Rainbow Snake, a personification of fertility, increase (richness in propagation of plants and animals) and rain, is common throughout Australia. It is a creator of human beings, having life-giving powers that send conception spirits to all the water holes. It is responsible for regenerating rains, and also for storms and floods when it acts as an agent of punishment against those who transgress the law or upset it in any way. It swallows people in great floods and regurgitates their bones, which turn into stone, thus documenting such events. Rainbow snakes can also enter a man and endow him with magical powers, or leave 'little rainbows', their progeny, within his body which will make him ail and die. As the regenerative and reproductive power in nature and human beings, it is the main character in the region's major rituals."

Among the Kunwinjku speaking people of western Arnhem Land, and many of their neighbors, numerous Rainbow snakes are said to populate the landscapes that make up their homelands. Two types of Rainbow serpents are found the cultural history of these native people. Evidence of these are found in their oral history, mythology, ceremonies and painted art: Yingarna, the female rainbow serpent, is the mother, the original creator being; and the male Rainbow serpent, Ngalyod is the transformer of the land. They often live in deep water holes below waterfalls.

In the art of this area, the Rainbow serpent is depicted as a long mythical creature made of the parts of different animals-kangaroo's or flying fox's head, crocodile's tail-joined along the body of a huge python decorated with water lilies, yams and waving tendrils.

The rock are images in western Arnhem Land have been studied in detail by Dr. Paul Tacon and Dr. Christopher Chippindale of the Cambridge University in Britain, and Meredith Wilson at the Australian National University. They have studied numerous images and believe that the first snake-like images were inspired by climate change and have identified a living model for them, the Ribbon seadragon.

These images first appeared in Aboriginal art around 6000 years ago, and follow a pattern that includes a snake-like body, curved horse-like heads, at least two types of tails (pointed or spiked), and an assortment of plant and animal-like appendages, including wispy tendrils and ear-like projections.

Researchers originally believed the artwork represented a seahorse, but after contacting fish expert John Paxton, from the Australian Museum, they decided upon the Ribbon seadragon which is found around Irian Jaya and the coast of northen Australia from Shark Bay in Western Australia to the Torres Strait.

The researchers also surmise that this animal would have been unfamiliar to people living inland until the sea began rising after the last Ice Age, flooding land masses and causing great disruption to climate, hunting and traditional life. Food plants and animals decreased in numbers and war increased as groups of people from different language and cultural groups were forced to share the disappearing landscape.

The researchers reasoned that because of this stress, the Rainbow serpent became a symbol of unity and peaceful cooperation, as well as of creation and destruction. They also concluded that the Rainbow serpent represents the world's oldest continuous religious tradition.

By now you may be asking, what does this colorful tale have to do with The Dallas World Aquarium? Well, read on and be amazed, my friends, as the modern day portion of this tale unfolds.....

On August 28, 2005 just one day before Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States, The Dallas World Aquarium received three female Ribbon seadragons from Australia, becoming one of the only aquariums in the world to have even seen these amazing animals, much less maintain them at our facility! The collector, who has provided us with some of our most unique and beautiful fish over the years, had been looking for these elusive creatures for more than 12 years. Little did we know what was in store for us! (Interesting that the Aboriginal people believe that the rainbow serpent brings the rainy season.)

From the very beginning, the Ribbon dragons began to shed some light into the mysteries of the mythological symbol they seem to represent. After being in their 1,000 gallon aquarium in our holding/quarantine facility for just two weeks, the females began dropping eggs, proving their fertility. The females began to produce eggs faithfully almost every two weeks.

On October 27, 2006, we introduced for the first time, a male ribbon seadragon to the females in the holding facility. Within 48 hours, the "brood patch" or pouch under his tail was full of eggs. Very little scientific literature has been written about the biology or behavior of these fascinating fish. With the assumption that we had only two weeks before the male would give birth, we quickly prepared a rearing tank, or "baby tank" as we call it. It is attached to the main system where the adults reside and can be separated as needed. We also began culturing microscopic food sources such as algae, rotifers and brine shrimp nauplii (newly hatched brine shrimp). These first foods are the key to raising young marine fish of all kinds, especially seahorses and their relatives.

On November 11, 2006 our seadragon dreams came true with the birth of our first baby Ribbon seadragon. In the hours following the appearance of the first baby, we watched in amazement as the male opened the flaps on his pouch and continued to release his offspring. More than 70 babies were born that day, but the fun was just beginning!

In the months since the first 'little rainbows' were born, our seadragon family has produced literally thousands of babies in five birthing events. Unfortunately, as in nature, not all of those young survive, but the male and his harem of females continue to provide us with the opportunity to learn more about their breeding behavior and the nutritional needs of the young dragons. Generally only a small percentage of the offspring will make it to adulthood.

The oldest of our "Dallas native" young seadragons is now eating the adult mysid shrimp that its parents feed on daily.

We hope to be able to introduce the Ribbon seadragons to our visitors within the next several months with the renovation of one of our exhibits in the Reef room gallery.

In the meantime, we are learning everything we can about the breeding behavior and nutritional needs of these animals and are collecting data on growth rates and development of the offspring. In the coming months and years we will work closely with industry experts from other public aquariums and with researchers at Texas A&M University in College Station. We hope in the future to publish our findings in scientific journals, and share this tale of the Ribbon dragon (aka. Rainbow serpent) with the world!

Acknowledgements:

• JOURNEY IN TIME : THE WORLD'S LONGEST CONTINUING ART TRADITION : THE 50,000 YEAR STORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL ROCK ART OF ARNHEM LAND / George Chaloupka. Chatswood, NSW : Reed, 1993.
• Aboriginal Art Online

Please notify the Membership Department (phone 214 720 2224 ext. 385 or by email kyle@dwazoo.com) if you will be joining us on Sunday, March 18th, at 2:00 pm for the presentation by Dr. Luis A. Mazariegos Hurtado, founder of The Hummingbird Conservancy and noted photographer.

Please notify the Membership Department (phone 214 720 2224 ext. 385 or by email kyle@dwazoo.com) if you will be joining us on Sunday, March 18th, at 2:00 pm for the presentation by Dr. Luis A. Mazariegos Hurtado, founder of The Hummingbird Conservancy and noted photographer.

Now available in the Book Store is "Window to the Sea - Behind the Scenes at America's Great Public Aquariums" by John Grant and Ray Jones.

If you are a fan of public aquariums, then you will love the book "Window to the Sea - Behind the Scenes at America's Great Public Aquariums." This book is a companion to the PBS television show and the authors are John Grant and Ray Jones. Highlighting four great aquariums in the US (John G. Shedd Aquarium, New England Aquarium, Monterrey Bay Aquarium and the Waikiki Aquarium) the authors provide readers an inside look at the operations of large aquariums. The photographs of the aquatic life are breathtaking but the text highlights the people who work at the aquariums, from architects who design the aquariums to the keepers, trainers and veterinarians who do the day-to-day jobs. Although not comprehensive, this book gives a good overview of the animals and jobs found in the modern aquarium. It is especially nice to see the notice given to the research and conservation work in which these aquarium participate. The book also contains a list of public aquariums arranged by state, including The Dallas World Aquarium with photos of our Leafy seadragons and Bangaii cardinalfish. The price of the paper back is $24.95 (less your member discount).