Mystic Aquarium

Special thank you to all our amazing staff who stayed overnight and are continuing to work through the storm to care for all the animals and remove snow from campus! #therealmvps

This morning, we were able to privately release Dipper back to her ocean home!! On December 30, 2025, the team at Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket (MMAN) reached out to our Animal Rescue Program hotline after observing a young gray seal pup alone on the beach. Gray seal pups are born with a white fur coat, known as lanugo, and typically nurse with their mothers for about four weeks. After that time, they begin to shed their lanugo and venture out on their own to learn how to hunt and forage. Although this pup was alert and responsive, she was still covered in her lanugo coat and appeared thin, showing signs that she was not yet ready to survive on her own. Based on her young age and body condition, the MMAN team made the decision to collect her for rehabilitation that same day. She was cared for overnight by their response team and transported to us by ferry the following morning. Once admitted to Mystic Aquarium, she received around-the-clock care, nutritional support, and an individualized treatment plan. During her time with Mystic Aquarium's Animal Rescue Program, she gained more than 10 pounds, began eating independently, and made excellent progress toward recovery. Now healthy and strong, she is back in her ocean home. All activities conducted under a stranding agreement through NMFS.

Happy World Whale Day, Juno!! Unlike most whales, belugas have flexible necks because their neck vertebrae aren’t fused, which means they can actually turn their heads side to side!

Mystic Aquarium is deeply concerned by the recent announcement rolling back protections for the Northeast Canyons & Seamounts Marine National Monument. This action weakens safeguards for one of the Atlantic’s most ecologically significant areas and puts vulnerable species and fragile deep-sea habitats at unnecessary risk. Scientific research has consistently demonstrated that this nearly 5,000-square-mile underwater sanctuary is a biodiversity hotspot, providing critical habitat for deep-sea corals, endangered whales, sea turtles, and countless other marine species. Protecting this unique ecosystem is essential not only for ocean health, but also for sustaining the ocean-based economy that supports communities across the Northeast. Mystic Aquarium stands with our partner organizations, including the New England Aquarium, in opposing any policies that seek to strip protections for the Northeast Canyons & Seamounts Marine National Monument. We urge policymakers to uphold durable, science-based protections to ensure the long-term health and resilience of this critical marine ecosystem. Photo credit: Keith Cowley

Snow day chick surprise!! 🐧❄️ During this weekend’s storm, two African penguin chicks hatched! The chicks are settling in behind the scenes with our Penguin and Veterinary teams, who are closely monitoring them in our backup areas. These hatchings are especially important. African penguins are critically endangered, with the wild population declining by 97% worldwide. Mystic Aquarium is proud to be part of the AZA Species Survival Plan, which helps protect this species. Stay tuned for more updates!

We may be closed due to snow, but that doesn’t mean the animal care stops! Thank you to all our amazing vet, animal care, and facilities teams on site today during the storm. ❄️

Today is Penguin Awareness Day! Did you know the African penguin is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN red list, with the wild population size decreasing by 97% over the past 100 years due to habitat loss, over fishing, and climate change? Mystic Aquarium is an active participant in The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan to stop the African penguin population decline. By uniting researchers, husbandry staff, educators, and concerned citizens, these groups use information on aquarium colonies of African penguins paired with field studies in South Africa to better understand the African penguin population both in aquariums and wild settings. This is accomplished through the support of research conducted at Mystic and directly in the field, hosting educational penguin programs, and raising funds to support African penguin programs.

It’s Aquatic Life Support Operator Week, and we want to say a special thank you to all our amazing LSS staff who keep all the habitats at Mystic Aquarium sanitary and thriving! Join Aquatic Animal Life Support Operator Jonny as he shares with us the process taken at the Aquarium to achieve the perfect and uniquely different water for each habitat!

Did you know that instead of traditional teeth, green sea turtles, like Charlotte, boast a rounded beak featuring serrated edges? This specialized adaptation aids in slicing and shredding their food!

Do penguins sneeze...? Penguins have little to no access to fresh water and take in salt water while eating fish. To keep from becoming dehydrated, they rely on special salt glands located behind their eyes that filter excess salt from their bloodstream. The salt then travels down their beak and exits through their nostrils. When penguins shake their heads or exhale, the salt is expelled, making it look like they’re sneezing, when they’re really just getting rid of extra salt.