Meet New England Aquarium and Zoo New England’s oldest animals

Off Beat

Would you consider the oldest animal in Boston is 73 years previous (not less than)? She’s sort of an enormous deal on the New England Aquarium.

A 73-year-old sea turtle, a 37-year-old harbor seal, and a 30-year-old African penguin. These are simply a number of the oldest animals dwelling in Boston’s zoos and aquariums proper now.

Within the wild, animals are at all times going through threats like predators, illness, meals shortage, and habitat destruction. However in captivity, they’ll dwell long gone their pure lifespan with the assistance of standard veterinary care and expertly curated environments.

And the individuals who look after the oldest animals in Boston say these critters all have distinctive personalities and quirks, irrespective of their species or age.

Myrtle the inexperienced sea turtle could possibly be 20 years older than her pure lifespan

Age: At the least 73, presumably as previous as 93, as she was between 20 and 40 years previous when she was taken in by the New England Aquarium in 1970.

Pure lifespan: 70+ years

Measurement: 500 lbs., 5 ft lengthy

Persona: Myrtle is assured and curious. Big Ocean Tank Supervisor Michael O’Neill says he believes Myrtle is aware of “how massive a deal she is” on the aquarium.

Historical past: Myrtle was possible a part of a inhabitants of inexperienced sea turtles in Florida earlier than she was taken from the wild. She spent the primary a part of her time in captivity at an aquarium in Provincetown. When that aquarium closed in 1970, it donated her to the New England Aquarium, the place she’s lived ever since.

Myrtle has made appearances in a number of movies, and met celebrities, outstanding politicians, and even some members of Aerosmith.

Habitat: Myrtle lives within the Big Ocean Tank on the New England Aquarium — a three-story, 40-foot-wide, 200,000-gallon cylindrical tank on the heart of the aquarium.

The tank is house to over 600 animals, together with dozens of species of fish, eels, and different turtles. The water within the tank is stored between 72 and 75 levels Fahrenheit and mimics a Caribbean coral reef.

Hobbies: Myrtle enjoys “dropping out of the sky” and elegantly floating above aquarium workers working within the Big Ocean Tank, getting her shell scratched, and inquisitively watching divers within the tank.

Favourite meals: Brussels sprouts and romaine lettuce.

Why she’s lived so lengthy: On the New England Aquarium, Myrtle receives common veterinary care, and isn’t vulnerable to dying from boat strikes, fishing gear entanglements, or by the hands of predators as she can be within the wild. O’Neill stated she is in nice well being, and will presumably dwell for a number of extra a long time.

Harlequin the African penguin has doubled her pure lifespan

Age: 30

Pure lifespan: As much as 15 years.

Measurement: 6 lbs., 26 inches tall, however Harlequin likes to stretch her neck so she seems to be even taller!

Persona: Assured, assertive, and dependable.

Historical past: Harlequin hatched on the New England Aquarium in 1992. Since then, she has raised eight chicks along with her mate Durban, and a few nonetheless dwell on the aquarium. Durban and Harlequin have been mates for the previous 23 years.

Up to now, Harlequin has suffered from bumblefoot, a typical situation in penguins the place they develop blisters, calluses, and lesions on the bottoms of their ft. However due to the aquarium’s veterinarians, her calluses have since healed.

Habitat: Harlequin lives within the penguin exhibit on the aquarium with about 50 different penguins. The exhibit is made up of six fiberglass islands which can be surrounded by 150,000 gallons of saltwater pulled in from Boston Harbor.

Hobbies: Harlequin enjoys exploring the islands, preening her mate Durban, defending her territory towards youthful penguins, and making her option to the entrance of the road at feeding time.

Favourite meals: Capelin and anchovies.

Why she’s lived so lengthy: Within the wild, sharks and fur seals hunt African penguins within the water, whereas seagulls, mongooses, and cats prey on nesting penguins and their offspring.

African penguins are additionally an endangered species, that means their inhabitants within the wild is down by round 70%. The largest culprits behind their inhabitants decline are local weather change, oil spills, and overfishing, which depletes their meals provide.

On the aquarium, Harlequin isn’t solely offered plentiful and high quality meals, however her weight and ft are usually monitored, she receives annual well being exams, and there are veterinarians out there seven days per week if she wants pressing care.

Eve the widespread cooter is the oldest animal on show at Franklin Park Zoo

Age: 50

Pure lifespan: 40 years

Measurement: 12 lbs., 16 inches lengthy

Persona: Daring, relaxed.

Historical past: Eve was donated to Zoo New England in 1984. She was beforehand stored as a pet, however grew greater than her proprietor might deal with. For a few years she was a part of the Youngsters’s Zoo exhibit at Franklin Park Zoo, however now she splits her time between two completely different displays.

Habitat: Eve spends her days in two completely different habitats. Within the winter, she stays indoors within the Riverbank exhibit in Chicken’s World, which features a pond, roots, and a solar lamp. In the summertime, she lives in Butterfly Hole the place she will be able to get some pure daylight.

Hobbies: Eve enjoys basking within the solar or beneath a sunlamp, swimming round, and sleeping on the backside of a pond.

Favourite meals: Atlantic silversides, leafy greens.

Why she’s lived so lengthy: Dwelling in captivity, Eve doesn’t must compete with different animals for meals, neither is she vulnerable to being eaten by predators similar to raccoons and skunks. She additionally receives common veterinary care.

Trumpet the Atlantic Harbor Seal is seven years previous her pure lifespan

Age: 37

Pure lifespan: 30 years

Measurement: 175 lbs., 5 ft lengthy

Persona: Trumpet is a matriarch among the many different seals. Aquarist Patty Leonard calls her a “spitfire” with “a number of zest.” Trumpet is enjoyable to look at and a pleasure to be round, Leonard stated.

Historical past: Trumpet was born on the New England Aquarium. Her mom was named Cecil, and her father was named Hoover. Hoover was well-known for his near-human “speech” which researchers consider he picked up whereas hanging round fishermen in Maine, giving him a definite accent.

Whereas Trumpet herself is quiet, one among her two kids, Chacoda (or “Chuck” for brief), is vocal like his grandfather. Trumpet’s daughter, Cayenne, takes after her mom in that regard. Each kids dwell on the aquarium with their mom.

Habitat: Trumpet lives in a 12-foot-deep, 42,000-gallon open-air salt water exhibit with 5 different harbor seals. The water inside is cool, and there are many giant rocks for the seals to put on. It’s situated exterior the aquarium, so individuals can go to her with out shopping for a ticket.

Hobbies: Trumpet enjoys enjoying with toy balls and hoses, napping, studying new tips, hanging out along with her kids, and porpoising (leaping out of the water).

Favourite meals: Squid. She additionally eats herring, capelin, sardines, lake smelt, salmon, and different fish to remain wholesome.

Why she’s lived so lengthy: Dwelling in captivity, Trumpet isn’t vulnerable to being eaten by predators similar to sharks, orcas, and polar bears. She additionally doesn’t must compete with different harbor seals for a depleting meals provide, and has her meals vetted by aquarium workers to make sure the fish she eats is free from parasites and dangerous micro organism.

Like the opposite animals on the aquarium, she receives common veterinary care, which incorporates weekly teeth-brushing. In 2015, she was handled for cataracts, which within the wild might have killed her by impeding her imaginative and prescient and thus her skill to search out meals and keep away from predators.

Butch the yellow-footed tortoise is Zoo New England’s oldest animal

Age: 53

Pure lifespan: 70 years

Measurement: 33 lbs., 1.5 ft lengthy

Persona: Outgoing, curious, pleasant.

Historical past: Butch was donated to Zoo New England in 1977. Earlier than that, he was stored as a pet. Since then, he’s lived at each Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo.

Habitat: In the summertime, Butch is a part of an outside exhibit on the Stone Zoo. However being from the Amazon, it’s too chilly for Butch to dwell exterior on the zoo within the winter as many animals do.

So throughout winter months, Butch lives in a heat enclosure with a warmth lamp at Franklin Park Zoo. Zookeeper Megan Coleman stated zookeepers typically activate a radio for him so he can hearken to music.

Hobbies: Butch enjoys crawling and hiding in bushes and leaves, stress-free throughout his twice-weekly bathtub, sunbathing beneath a warmth lamp, burying himself in hay, and following zookeepers round to see what they’re as much as.

Coleman says Butch can be very playful and has a blue and purple ball he likes to push round along with his head.

“Typically he performs too tough and flips himself over,” she stated. “He will get a lot pleasure from only a coloured ball.”

Favourite meals: Apples, carrots, and different reddish meals. He additionally eats leafy greens similar to lettuce, kale, escarole, and dandelion leaves to remain wholesome.

Why he’s lived so lengthy: Within the wild, Butch can be vulnerable to being trafficked as a part of the pet commerce. However in captivity, he’s properly cared for and receives yearly veterinary check-ups for ailments that generally have an effect on turtles and tortoises, similar to salmonella.