Glass sponges, like this cloud sponge, form reefs off the coast of BC! They use silica in glass-like structural particles that form their skeletons, giving them their name. Once thought to have gone extinct, they were (re)discovered in BC's Hecate Strait in 1987.

This bin is 100% Kunik-approved. #vanaqua

It's the first day of #NationalVolunteerWeek ! We spoke to Ron and Gail, volunteers at the Vancouver Aquarium and VA Marine Mammal Rescue Society, about what volunteering means to them! #NVW2024 #EveryMomentMatters

lazy sunday #vanaqua

#NationalWildlifeWeek concludes with a focus on the Arctic! Head down the stairs near Steller's Bay to visit Canada's Arctic, where you can chill out with cold-weather creatures like the Atlantic Spiny Lumpsucker! #vanaqua

#NationalWildlifeWeek continues, and today is all about our oceans! Ocean plants provide a huge portion of our planet's oxygen, and kelp forests provide important habitats for hundreds of different species of marine life. #vanaqua

This is the egg case (or 'mermaid's purse') of a big skate! Big skates have the largest egg cases of any skate species, and are only one of two skate species whose egg cases typically contain multiple eggs — there could be as many as seven eggs in a big skate egg case!

It's National Wildlife Week here in Canada, and today is all about Canada's wetlands! Endangered frogs like the northern leopard frog are disappearing from BC wetlands — so to help them, we partner with the Northern Leopard Frog Recovery team to release tadpoles into the wild.

It's Tazlina's 5th rescueversary! Taz was found off the coast of Alaska at just a day old. She was rehabilitated by Alaksa SeaLife Center and deemed non-releasable by US Fish and Wildlife Service before being transferred to the Aquarium in 2019. Happy rescueversary Taz! #vanaqua

Can't get enough of the fossils in Monsters of the Abyss? Head over to the updated shark habitat in the Tropics gallery and check out this display, where you can compare the jaws of different shark species like the silky shark and white shark! #vanaqua

You might have noticed this blue and white tropical fish in the Canaccord gallery — it's a juvenile emperor angelfish! These angelfish have very different markings as juveniles than as adults — so swing by the Canaccord gallery to see this pattern before this fish grows up!

Modern crocodilians have remained relatively unchanged since they first appeared in the Jurassic period, making them virtual 'living fossils' in our Monsters of the Abyss exhibit! #vanaqua

Aya says hiya! #vanaqua

Happy Rescueversary Kunik! Kunik was near Homer, Alaska in March 2016 and deemed non-releasable by US FWS. She was rehabilitated at Alaska Sealife Center alongside Mak, who was rescued a month prior, and the two came to the aquarium together in November of 2016. #vanaqua

It's your LAST CHANCE to see Scuba Bunny! Visit Underwater Wild Coast this weekend as Scuba Bunny hops in at 11 am and 1 pm, now through Monday! #vanaqua

On now in the 4D Theatre: Join a young sea turtle's journey through the ocean in the all-new immersive theatrical experience, Turtle Odyssey 4D! #vanaqua

Scuba Bunny is diving into Underwater Wild Coast this year! Catch daily dive shows at 11 am and 1 pm — but Scuba Bunny swims away after April 1st, so be sure to hop on by before this long weekend ends! #vanaqua

oh to be a lounging dwarf caiman #vanaqua

plotting... scheming, even #vanaqua

Happy #NationalPuppyDay from Steller sea lion pup Natoa! (feat. proud pup mom Rogue)