Even here in Central Ohio, the ocean plays a huge role in our everyday lives. The ocean is critical in producing over half the world’s oxygen and regulate our climate and weather patterns. A healthy ocean is key to a healthy planet!
To celebrate, let’s DIVE into a discussion of some of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's ocean-dwelling residents while also learning what YOU can do to help keep our ocean (and planet!) healthy.
Florida Manatees
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is honored to be part of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), an ongoing partnership for more than 20 years. To date, our work with this partnership has helped 32 manatees return to Florida after completing this stage of their rehabilitation. In their native range, a manatee's diet largely consists of types of sea grasses. Because of pollution and algae blooms, sea grass growth is scarce, endangering manatee populations who depend on it for food.
What can YOU do to help?
- Reducing the use of fertilizers in our lawns and gardens helps prevent the harmful algae blooms in the ocean that may harm many sea animals and the food they depend on. Avoiding the use of fertilizers can also help local plants and wildlife return to their native ranges and habitats.
Buddy the Sea Turtle
Manatee Coast is also home to Buddy, a hawksbill sea turtle. Hawksbill sea turtles are listed as endangered and are protected under U.S. law, as well as all other sea turtles species. Buddy is missing parts of her flippers because of a suspected predator attack and was deemed non-releasable due to her injuries. She arrived at the Columbus Zoo in 2009 weighing only 17 pounds. Buddy now weighs 120 pounds and can often be seen swimming right next to the manatees.
What can YOU do to help?
- Pick up trash! When trash ends up in our oceans, sea turtles often mistake it for food. That same trash can also wash up on beaches and impede sea turtles from nesting.
- If you are lucky enough to see a wild sea turtle during your next beach trip, be sure to admire it from a distance, especially if she is nesting.
Humboldt penguins
The Columbus Zoo is home to 14 Humboldt penguins. Humboldt penguins are a warm-weathered penguin species found on the west coast of South America in Peru and Chile. Humboldt penguins rely on the cold Humboldt Current in the Pacific Ocean for their food, which largely consists of small schooling fish. Unfortunately, penguins also have to contend with human fishing along the Humboldt Current, and it is difficult for them to compete with large fishing boats.
What can YOU do to help?
- Support sustainable seafood practices! Learn how to make the best choices when it comes to buying seafood.
Stingrays
The Columbus Zoo provides homes to two protected species of stingray: the Southern stingray and the cownose stingray. Along with sharks, stingrays are elasmobranchs, meaning their skeletons are made of cartilage rather than bone. Though not much is known about the conservation status of many of these species, we do know that keeping our ocean clean and safe will ensure the survival and success for future generations.
What can YOU do to help?
- Support sustainable seafood practices!
Coral Reefs
A World Ocean Day celebration isn’t complete without talking about some of the most important and diverse ecosystems in the ocean: coral reefs! The Columbus Zoo has been a supporter of SECORE International, Inc., since its inception in 2002 and more recently has been involved in the Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project. The Florida Coral Reef Tract is the largest barrier reef that runs along the Florida coast. It is sadly succumbing to a disease called the “stony-coral tissue loss disease," which has spread over 93 miles in over four years and has a nearly 100% mortality rate.
The Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project has worked to rescue almost 5,000 corals comprised of 22 species ahead of the disease so that they can be used for future restoration of the Florida Coral Reef Tract. In 2020, the Columbus Zoo received 19 original coral colonies from the Florida Coral Reef Tract. To date, we currently have 16 out of the 19 original coral colonies, and our total number of colonies has grown to 31 due to accidental fragmentation and asexual budding.
What can YOU do to help?
- Sunscreen is a must, especially in the hot summer days. Make sure to think about the ocean and use a sunscreen that is considered coral reef-friendly.
- Learn about how you can support coral reef restoration projects
While World Ocean Day is only celebrated once a year, there are several actions YOU can take year-round to make a positive impact on the health of our ocean and its residents. During your next visit to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, be sure to stop by all of the habitats in our Shores and Aquarium region to learn more about our work supporting ocean conservation.
