You've seen a few posts on training we have done with some smaller lobsters (here and here), but did you also know we are training a 24 pound lobster? That's right - this lobster is the size of 3 newborn babies! I initially started off just learning how to feed him, but have since introduced a target and he is doing great. Lobsters are really cool animals. Did you know that like people, they can develop handedness? All lobsters start out with their two claws the same size, but as they get older, they will start to use one claw more than the other. This claw will develop a lot of muscle, get really big, and become what we know as the "crusher" claw. The muscle of the crusher claw doesn't tire easily, so when the lobster needs to break open a shell (to get the food inside), the lobster can apply a lot of pressure over a long period of time. The other, smaller claw becomes the "pincher" claw. This claw can be moved quickly and is designed to cut through softer things, like fish.

The team at the Mystic Aquarium worked tirelessly to treat this animal and stabilize its condition. They rehydrated the animal but no improvements in its behavior or attitude were apparent. Quality of life for animals in rehabilitation is paramount. Despite therapy the seal's condition continued to deteriorate and euthanasia was determined to be the most humane course of action. The decision to euthanize an animal is never taken lightly.

The New England Aquarium has long been recognized as the world's first modern Aquarium. Now, on the 40th anniversary of its founding, The National Trust for Historic Preservation has honored the Aquarium's groundbreaking architecture by making it a part of this year's Partners in Preservation grant contest. Now, with your help, the Aquarium can win a grant that will restore the building's interior to the same finish it had when it first opened its doors in 1969.

During training sessions, the lumpfish would look up at us while they were waiting for food or the next cool behavior. Sometimes, Blondie pushed water from her mouth right below the surface to make a mini bubble machine. It was so cute, I wanted to show everyone. I put this behavior on a signal by positioning my hand above her head so that she is facing upwards. I give the signal, which is "a starburst of fingers..." (that's a hard one to describe!) with my right hand and wait for her to spit out a little bubble. I immediately reinforce. You can see in the video, she catches on fast- one time she even jumps the gun and blows just as my hand gets into position! This is a great example of capturing a behavior; she blows the bubbles on her own, I put a signal to it.

Global climate change is real and it’s happening now. From the Arctic with its diminishing sea ice to New England’s low-lying coastal areas to the Great Barrier Reef, the planet has heated up over the past century. CO2 levels are rising, and sea levels are too. Animals and plants are disappearing from some places and appearing in others. The oceans are a leading indicator of climate change — they are affected by climate change and they in turn affect the climate. As ocean stewards, the Aquarium supports important research on climate change and the oceans and a source of information.

As you can see, each seals' tongue is shaped a little bit differently. Here are a few of the seals that we have trained or are in the process of training the tongue behavior.

New England Aquarium updates and photo links to new posts from neaq.org/blogs. See the latest news from the Aquarium as picture links. Includes an RSS feed and archive.

These are some amazing photos of what goes on behind the scenes at the New England Aquarium fur seal exhibit! It looks like the seals have an apartment back there :)

Incredible video of breaching right whale in the Bay of Fundy! Looks like magic!

Neat story about how the New England Aquarium keeps their sea turtles healthy.