North Carolina Aquarium Society

After much planning and finalizing, the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will host a much-anticipated community memorial day for Nimbus the white loggerhead sea turtle on Aug. 2 from 10 am - 4 pm.

The day was chosen, as it was the month Nimbus first arrived at NCAPKS. During the community day, guests will be able to watch a video of Nimbus’ story, learn more about sea turtle conservation programs, and see a video about Nimbus' artificial reef memorial.

To learn more about the community day and the Eternal Reef artificial reef, visit the link in our profile or click the link https://www.ncaquariums.com/pks-newsroom/posts/aquarium-hosts-community-day-for-nimbus

Nimbus was a 13-year-old leucistic loggerhead sea turtle that came to the Aquarium as a hatchling in August 2010. He quickly became a shining ambassador and was loved by everyone. He died in October 2023.

Link in bio or: https://linktr.ee/ncaquariumsociety

Support animal care by adopting one of the Aquariums' aquatic (or avian) creatures! Whether you choose the majestic bald eagle 🦅 , the sleek shark 🦈 , the charming sea turtle 🐢 , the playful otter 🦦, the elegant seahorse 🌊🐴 , or the scaly alligator 🐊 , you're making a splash for a great cause. The real animals will stay at the Aquarium, but with some adoption levels, you'll get a plush buddy to snuggle 💝 at home!

You're halfway there! 🐌

📷 Rick Eller, Pollinator Garden, NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island

🦈 🦦🐢 Sharks, otters, and turtles, oh my!

🚙 Show your support for the Aquariums everywhere you go! Order your specialty plate from the NC DMV today! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Fn499r

Pick up a membership to "dive" 🤿 The Living Shipwreck all year long! A Family Membership is just $89, which is less than the cost of two visits for a family of four. https://linktr.ee/ncaquariumsociety

The 306,000-gallon The Living Shipwreck, features a three-quarter-size replica of the U-352, a World War II German submarine sunk by the Coast Guard off Cape Lookout in 1942. The featured animals in this habitat are sand tiger shark, sandbar shark, nurse shark, red drum, tarpon, crevalle jack, barracuda, sheepshead, and gag grouper.

Say GOODBYE to plastic this 🌏 🌳 🌊 If you need some extra help reducing your plastic consumption, our gift shop is a perfect place to start. We offer a variety of products that are a better alternative to single-use plastic. We have reusable (and portable) flatware sets, reusable cups, plastic-free sandwich bags, and so much more. You can even pick up a book to help you in your plastic-free journey. The ocean is in OUR hands, let's be 🌊 🐠 🐢

The hummers are here and it's the perfect time to put out a feeder! 🌺

Learn more about how to safely feed hummingbirds from fellow The Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facility Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute here: https://s.si.edu/3X9BWwW

Come 'sea' me at the Pier Shop!

Check out this cool coloring page design of a basking shark from Shark Trust!

Basking sharks are the second biggest fish in the world! Yet they eat tiny, microscopic plants and animals that float in the water, called plankton. Color it and show us in the comments!

🦈🍺 Hey Wilmington! What are you doing this weekend? 🦈🍺

Join us this Sunday, July 14, 1-3 p.m. for an afternoon of food, fins, and fun at Suds for Sharks, a free, family-friendly fundraising event hosted by the NC Aquarium Society at Watermans Brewing 1610 Pavilion Place, Wilmington.

Showcase your shark knowledge 🧠 with "Trivia with Teeth," bid on shark-inspired must-haves at a silent auction 🎁 , and chow down on a delicious steam pot 🦀 platter special for two. There will also be complimentary activities for children, including a performance 🎤 by Jason Andre from "Sea Songs for Little Pirates" from 1-2 p.m. Collectible Suds for Sharks pint glasses 🍻 will be available for a donation of $15 or more and come with one free beer fill.

All donations, including $5 from each seafood platter and $1 for each pint of beer sold, will go to the nonprofit NC Aquarium Society to support the shark conservation work of SAFE Sharks and Rays.

SEA you there!

Event link: https://bit.ly/3LiiKYK

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

🦈 Celebrate Shark Month with our exclusive shark-themed swag! Shop our online Gift Store and support the mission of the NC Aquariums, including vital shark conservation work, with every purchase. https://ncaquariumsociety.com/shop-online/

NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

🦈 It’s , and what better way to celebrate than exploring our own incredible aquariums? From the coastal beauty of NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher and NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores to the iconic spots like Jennette's Pier and NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island, these places are more than aquariums – they’re hubs of marine expertise and shark-tastic adventures! 🌊🐟 Dive in today and kick off Shark Week with a splash at one of these awesome locations!

Image from NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Image description: Bonnethead shark swimming around a school of fish.

Happy Dragonfly Week!

The Dragonfly (Anisoptera; Aniso meaning uneven, and ptera meaning wing) is one of the many beautiful insects that grace our Pollinator Garden.

They are characterized by their long bodies with two narrow pairs of intricately veined, membranous wings that, while generally transparent, may have colored markings -- dragonflies can be found near most freshwater habitats worldwide.

These predatory insects can feed on prey ranging from worms to crustaceans, from tadpoles to small fish, and can make homes in even the most inhospitable of environments.

Truly an impressive species and we are so happy to celebrate them this week!
Come by, take a walk on the Nature Trail, and see if you can't snap a photo of 'em.

🇺🇸 Have a Fin-tastic 🐟 Fourth! Let Freedom Wave 🌊 !

📣 💼 We're hiring! Join our fish family in Raleigh as a Finance Manager!

Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/4eLLA17

The Finance Manager performs financial record keeping, which may involve accounts payable or accounts receivable accounts, in addition to several cash handling responsibilities.

This is not a position with the state of North Carolina.

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island
Jennette's Pier

Welcome to Plastic Free July!

Join us in the movement to be the solution to plastic pollution! Each Monday in July we’ll share a new challenge for you to tackle that week. Some may be more challenging than others. You can help make your community and oceans cleaner by refusing single-use plastics. Are you up for the challenge?

There are many different reusable to-go items we can use. To-go containers, containers for lunches, reusable coffee/tea mugs, and reusable water bottles. Each replaces a single-use plastic item. Show us a picture of your favorite reusable water bottle or cup in the comments! For more ideas visit www.plasticfreejuly.org

🦈 🍻 Get ready for an evening of food, fins, and fun at Suds for Sharks on July 10 from 5:30 - 8 p.m. at Crystal Coast Brewing Company in Atlantic Beach.

This free, family-friendly event will feature speakers and shark-themed games, and all donations will go to the nonprofit NC Aquarium Society to support local shark conservation projects. The brewery will also have a special beer 🍺 crafted for the event! Learn more: https://www.ncaquariums.com/pks-special-events

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

Named for their luminous blue-gray bells 🔔 , which can reach up to 12 inches 📏 in diameter, moon jellies 🌙 are common along the Carolina Coast. These graceful drifters have only a mild sting to humans, but their tentacles stun their prey of tiny ocean invertebrates and zooplankton.

📷 NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

🐈🐟

Happy Catfish Day!

Come watch our big blue catfish swim in the Falls Lake Reservoir habitat! The average blue catfish grows about 2 feet long and weighs about 20 pounds. But they can grow to be nearly 150 pounds and measure 5 feet in length! They can live from 10 to around 30 years! Their whiskers (barbels) are also prrrrfect for detecting food!

🐋 Attention Aquarium Members!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3VCGg7D

Embark on the journey of a lifetime with the NC Aquarium Society on our exclusive Member Adventure Whale Wonders: Beautiful Baja, available only to NC Aquarium Members.

Guided by environmental educators from the NC Aquariums and local naturalists, you’ll encounter a wide array of marine mammals, such as curious gray whales 🐋, majestic orcas, playful dolphins 🐬 and lively sea lions. Explore this remarkable region’s historical sites and otherworldly landscapes like towering sand dunes and expansive salt flats.

Space is extremely limited. Reserve your spot today!

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Jennette's Pier

It's going to be a scorcher! 🌡☀️ Escape with a trip below the waves. 🌊 With a membership you can visit all three NC Aquariums and Jennette's Pier all summer long and beyond, starting at just $59! Link in bio or https://bit.ly/3nTHTge

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island
Jennette's Pier

It’s Veterinary Appreciation Day!

Kudos to the awesome Aquariums Veterinary Team! They are important to us and the animals that live here at the Aquarium! The veterinary team visit all three N.C. Aquarium sites to take the very best care of all of our animals.

Here, some of the members of the team are working together to perform a physical on our Orinoco crocodile! The veterinary and animal care teams all take great care to keep our animals comfortable and reduce their stress during exams and wellness checks.

It's ... join us in celebrating marine reptiles who travel the world's oceans helping maintain a balance in marine ecosystems. Let's help tip the scales for their survival as nearly all species are threatened or endangered.

🌊🐢 Discover simple ways you can make a difference in the lives of sea turtles every day. Our resilient ocean friends need our support to ensure they flourish for future generations.

Tomorrow is World Sea Turtle Day! We'll wrap up our species highlights with the largest living sea turtle: the leatherback. These ocean giants can reach more than 6 ft (1.8 m) in length and weigh over 1,400 lbs (640 kg). That's almost half the weight of a VW Beetle! 🚘

Unfortunately, leatherbacks can accidentally eat or become entangled with floating plastic bags or balloons, which resemble the jellies that make up most of their diet. To help leatherbacks and other sea turtles, consider using a reusable bag 🛍️ and never release balloons 🎈!

On June 14th, we celebrate Green Sea Turtle Day! Primarily herbivores, green sea turtles munch on seagrass, algae, and seaweeds.

Did you know that you can adopt a sea turtle through the Adopt-An-Animal program? Every adoption helps care for Aquarium animals. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3k8Fhtt or link in bio