The Alaska Sea life Center

Monday, June 08, 2009 – Day 39

Today we paid a visit to the Alaska Sea life Center. The Center is like a Sea World but without the trained whales and seals.  The habitats set up for the birds and animals is surprisingly similar to what we have seen along the coastline.  Most of the animals have been rescued from the wild when they were either orphaned or injured.  The newest addition is a male sea otter pup that is approx. 10 weeks old when he arrived.  Skittle is now swimming around in the pen usually occupied by harbour seals.  (They have been re-located to a number of pens outside.)  Skittle seems to be very vigorous, but will likely not be released into the wild as he has become too tame; the Center will be looking for a new home in a zoo to house him.

Anything that involves the Alaska marine environment is a part of this center, which was partially developed as a result of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.  A great deal of the funding came form the Exxon Valdez settlement and some of the studies that are going on pertain to containment and control of oil spills.  There is a great display of sea birds and ducks and we were able to see up close how these birds dive and swim underwater.  We were surprised to learn that most of these birds use their wings to swim underwater rather than their webbed feet.  They are well adapted to this habitat.  We had seen Puffins on the cruise yesterday. They would try to escape from the boat as it approached by first trying to fly away and then by diving deep.  And can they dive well for such an awkward looking bird.

The center is set up for educating children with many of the displays at eye level for kids.  There are a lot of hands-on and interactive displays to keep the kids engaged.  At the same time it was educational for adults.  We spent approximately 5 hours going through the Center; attending a couple of presentations and watching live feeds of the Stellar Sea lions from Chiswell Island at the entrance to Cook Inlet from the Gulf of Alaska approx. 35 miles south of Seward.  Its amazing how technology has helped to improve research techniques. 

This was another CAA Tour Book, Gem rated item.  We have never been disappointed or felt ripped-off by any of their suggestions so far.

Tomorrow, off to Homer, Alaska.