Mystic Aquarium

Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut, US
The aquarium was presented with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2014. The award was accepted by Sea Research Foundation's president Stephen M. Coan. The Titanic exhibit has since been remodeled into multiple exhibits, including Exploration: Wild, Jurassic Giants, and the current exhibit, Dino Seas: An Immersive Journey.

Mystic Aquarium holds six beluga whales (Juno, Natasha, Kela and three more), four Steller sea lions, six northern fur seals (two adult and four pups), six California sea lions, one Pacific and seven Atlantic harbor seals, two Arctic spotted seals, a large colony of 31 African penguins, unicorn fish, blue tang, octopus, Japanese spider crabs, sand tiger sharks, bamboo sharks, sea turtle, clownfish, an extensive sea jelly exhibit, seasonal birds, and other oceanic creatures. It is among the first aquariums to attempt artificial insemination of a beluga whale as part of its conservation work, in order to increase breeding in human care. Within the aquarium, encounter programs are offered to visitors for an additional fee, who can get close to the African penguins, touch and stand in the water with beluga whales, touch bamboo sharks, and feed and touch sting rays in a special pool.

Two beluga whales died in the aquarium within a year. The aquarium imported five individuals of the species from Marineland in Canada in May 2021 despite outcries from animal rights groups and a lawsuit. A few months later, in August 2021, five year old Havok died while being treated for gastrointestinal issues. After Havok’s death, the US Department of Agriculture conducted a focused inspection of the aquarium and found three critical violations involving Havok’s veterinary care, his handling, and the facilities. The report found that the aquarium failed to provide adequate veterinary care in the last eight hours of Havok’s life. Six year old Havana died in February 2022. An examination later showed numerous significant lesions indicating storage disease in the whale’s brain and spinal cord and acute cardiac failure. Mystic Aquarium noted a common factor in the locations from which the deceased whales originated. They stated that their research team in Canada was collaborating with a contracted veterinarian to assist Marineland, the facility of origin, in closely examining the beluga whale population there.