Nature Research Center Update
For immediate release ‐ July 07, 2021
Contact: Micah Beasley, 919.707.9970. Images available upon request
The Museum’s exhibits team constructing the Dueling Dinosaurs teaser wall.
Dueling Dinosaurs Teaser Wall; Changing Oceans Exhibit Closed for Renovations
These are exciting times at the Museum! In mid-June, the exhibits team built a wall across the first floor of the Nature Research Center at the Museum’s downtown location in preparation for construction to start on the new Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit scheduled to open in late 2023.
The newly erected partition provides an opportunity for guests to take a selfie with an artistic representation of the Museum’s future residents, the tyrannosaur and Triceratops. While still impressive, these amazing creatures are depicted at a mere 40 percent of their actual size!
The story of the Museum’s evolution along the wall will generate excitement for the SECU DinoLab, a state-of-the-art research center that is designed with guests in mind so they can get up close and personal with the fossils and meet some of the scientific team as they uncover long-buried secrets.
Behind the partition, the Changing Oceans exhibit will be dismantled to protect the fish, and renovated. This exhibit has provided Museum guests with a sense of a wonder about aquatic life since April 2012, but don’t worry, it will return!
The veterinary and Living Collections staff met to discuss the noise and vibrations which are possible during Dueling Dinosaurs construction. It was determined that the impact of demolition might cause the animals on exhibit distress, so the decision was made to remove all animals from Changing Oceans before construction begins.
In February, as an initial step, the Changing Oceans exhibit was temporarily closed to complete an annual health exam of the occupants. At the time, there were 11 different species of fish living in the aquarium. Representative sample fish were temporarily removed from the exhibit then anesthetized so they were unconscious for these diagnostic procedures. Checkups included visual exams and microscopic evaluations of skin, fins and gills. The fish were also weighed and photographed.
Dr. Dan Dombrowski, the Museum’s Chief Veterinarian, examines one of the Changing Oceans residents.
The animals were allowed to fully recover then placed back into the exhibit. All examined fish were determined to be healthy and approved for relocation.
Many of the animals that were on display will be transferred to another DNCR facility, The North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island. These include the Atlantic Spadefish, Permits, Pompanos, Lookdowns, Sergent Majors and Ladyfish. In addition, a Mutton Snapper which is currently off exhibit will be transferred.
Other residents have already been moved to new locations across the Museum. The Doctorfish Tang has now taken up residence in the hard bottom fish exhibit. The angelfish species will also be moved to new locations within the Museum.
Changing Oceans will reopen after the construction of Dueling Dinosaurs is completed. The Museum is hard at work to obtain the resources needed to recondition the exhibit to better reflect the current changes happening in our oceans today.
Edited January 20, 2023
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