Spring is always a busy time and a time of change for the DWA. Not only do we begin our extended hours, daylight saving time begins. Understandably, some of our animals take time to adjust to these changes. This is also the time for planting and pruning by the horticulture department, however, the mild winter was a pleasant surprise for our exterior plants.

We currently have three web cams on our website – manatees, spider crabs and sharks. We have had the manatee cam for many years and it has acquired quite a following around the world. We are sometimes informed by viewers that adjustment is needed. One faithful watcher is in Helsinki, Finland and with his time being eight hours ahead of ours, we can rely on him to let us know if there is a problem during the night. One inquiry about what was round and moving about in the aquarium exhibit seen through the crab cam is explained in the current Olly the Octopus article. Through social media we have become aware of how many people use the shark cam to show their family and friends at home what they are doing in Dallas. If you see someone waving and looking up in the tunnel, they probably are not really waving at the sharks.

As in every spring, certain days each year are designated to remind us that we have a responsibility to our planet. Earth Day in 2011 was spent in Peru, releasing manatees back into their natural habitat. We returned to Peru in April this year to participate in the second release of manatees. Equally as exciting as the first, this journey was back to the reserve and knowing that the previous release had been successful, made this trip more memorable. Earth Day in Peru 2012 tells more about this adventure. In addition to Earth Day, we have Migratory Bird and World Oceans Days during the spring. Now That’s a Cause for Celebration describes some of the fun activities enjoyed by guests of all ages and the DWA staff.

The DWA is active in many organizations, committees and groups concerned with animal welfare. We often host conferences and send participants to other facilities for such events. We enjoyed hosting the Otter Keeper Workshop 2012 in April. DWA was also represented by staff in attendance at Campeche, Mexico and London, England. Morelet’s Crocodile – No Longer an Endangered Species explains our participation in the process of changing the status of a species and being sure that its sustainability is guaranteed. Securing a Safe Future for Sawfishes was the topic of the London conference, an endangered species that is intriguing to everyone and one that is unmistakable on the shark cam. The Book of the Month is about Sonya, a young sawfish in Australia that learns and teaches the skills necessary for survival.

Thanks for your continued support of the DWA.

Daryl Richardson
Director