Recent News
Seal Named “Northlands”, Set To Leave IslandMonday, March 20, 2023
The seal who was found on Clearwater Beach last month has officially been named Northlands — with Ruby Dill naming the seal after her granddaughter’s school — and Northlands will soon be traveling to the USA with the aim he continue his rehabilitation before being released back into the wild.
Plans Being Made To Send Seal To The USA
Saturday, March 18, 2023
The seal that was found in Bermuda last month — which is only a few weeks old — is “eating six pounds of fish a day, gaining weight, and generally doing well,” and plans are being made to send him to the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, with the same facility that accepted the seal that was found here in 2019, set to assist again.
BZS Trunk Island Cottage Receives Upgrade!
Friday, March 17, 2023
Thanks to the unwavering support of our donors, the Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) has recently completed renovations to the cottage on Trunk Island – the BZS Living Classroom, the jewel in the crown of BZS education. The renovations have expanded the footprint of the current island classroom to encompass an expansion of the sheltered porches for outdoor learning while also providing storage areas for teaching tools.
Over 500 People Attend Lionfish Chowder Event
Friday, February 24, 2023
Chiko&T’s Restaurant won both the People’s Choice and Judge’s Awards at the BZS Lionfish Chowder competition, while The Cloud at the Waterfront, Wahoo’s Bistro, the Loren and the Spot Restaurant claimed second and third place honours.
HSBC Announced as Lead Sponsor of BZS Micro Forest Project
Monday, February 20, 2023
With the impacts of climate change being felt more and more each year, the need for reforestation projects has arguably never been more important and urgent. The Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) today announced that HSBC has thrown its weight behind increasing Bermuda’s biodiversity, as Lead Sponsor of the BZS Micro Forest Project – Bermuda's Official Micro Forest Initiative.
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Latest News
All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
News Staff
Published May 7, 2017 at 8:02 pm (Updated May 7, 2017 at 8:02 pm)
Sea turtles are being temporarily relocated from the Great Sound to keep them out of harm’s way during the America’s Cup.
They will be homed in a purpose-built ocean enclosure near the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo in an operation involving America’s Cup Bermuda, the Ministry of the Environment and relevant environmental organisations, according to a Bermuda Government press release.
Sea turtles will be netted based on methods used successfully for turtle tagging operations, the release states.
Their new temporary home has an appropriate depth of seawater and animal husbandry experts close at hand, while the Government says there will be low impact on other species.
BAMZ will be responsible for caring for the turtles and will follow guidelines for holding sea turtles in captivity. Collection is beginning now in order to minimise the time in captivity; by July the turtles will be back in the same area where they were originally collected.
Mike Winfield, CEO of the ACBDA, said in a statement: “There will be a vastly increased level of marine traffic in the Great Sound in late May and June. We turned to Bermuda Environmental Consulting, our environmental advisers, and they have coordinated a multi-agency group bringing in the needed expertise from the Government of Bermuda’s environmental team for all aspects of this operation.
“We began and continue with the objective of capturing the turtles safely, looking after them during the enhanced traffic volume period and then returning them to their habitats.”
The press release says ACBDA has worked closely with the Ministry of the Environment, BAMZ and a variety of experts with years of experience in the field in order to facilitate this project.
Ian Walker, principal curator of the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, stated: “The ACBDA came to the scientific community expressing concern about the level of marine traffic in the Great Sound in May and June and asking for assistance in minimising the risks this could present to marine wildlife.
“Working with local sea turtle experts, the team collectively developed a plan to capture and relocate these animals in late May and June which is expected to reduce the risk to animals while keeping them in a safe and humane manner.
“BAMZ is experienced in caring for sea turtles for long periods both for exhibits and for rehabilitation and we are committed to providing the best care possible for them before returning them back to their natural habitat at the conclusion of the event.”
Numbers of turtles in Bermuda’s near shore waters have increased significantly over the past couple of years. In part this is thanks to successful turtle conservation efforts both locally by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, BAMZ and the Bermuda Zoological Society and others throughout the Greater Caribbean region.
The boating public is encouraged to assist in the conservation of sea turtles by travelling at slower speeds and strictly observing no wake zones, being on the watch for turtles and encouraging other boaters to also be on the lookout for turtles.
Anyone who finds an injured or deceased sea turtle should call the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre on 297-1010 or VHF Channels 16 or 27.