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News from The Florida Aquarium
February 2, 2026
ThunderBug Dives into Adventure at The Florida Aquarium for the Historic Stadium Series
Fans watching yesterday’s NHL’s Stadium Series coverage may have seen videos of beloved Tampa Bay Lightning mascot ThunderBug exploring Tampa Bay in search of hidden treasure. As part of the excitement surrounding the NHL’s first-ever outdoor hockey game in a Florida football stadium, ThunderBug made a memorable stop at The Florida Aquarium, where his treasure…
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January 23, 2026
From Parade to Purpose: Recycle Gasparilla Beads at The Florida Aquarium
Every Gasparilla season, thousands of beads are tossed into the air, and too many end up in Tampa Bay. To help keep plastics out of the local waterways, The Florida Aquarium is once again partnering with the City of Tampa on the Bead-Free Bay initiative. The effort turns a fun tradition into a meaningful way...
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January 21, 2026
The Florida Aquarium’s Stingrays Return to TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center
Seven cownose stingrays from The Florida Aquarium are once again gliding through Cownose Cove at TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach. The return marks the reopening of the popular touch habitat following extensive repairs after damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The seven male cownose rays, known for the uniquely shaped “cow-like” nose that...
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January 21, 2026
Penguin Awareness Day Highlights Critically Endangered African Penguins
They waddle, they dive, and they charm guests with their unmistakable bray, and African penguins continue to capture hearts around the world. This Penguin Awareness Day, The Florida Aquarium is celebrating this charismatic animal while highlighting the important conservation efforts underway to protect this remarkable species for the future. Guests are invited to connect with...
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January 13, 2026
The Tide Pool Exhibit at The Florida Aquarium Ranks 5th Best New Attraction in the Country
The Florida Aquarium’s newest exhibit, The Tide Pool, has earned national recognition, placing 5th in the country in USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for Best New Attraction—highlighting both the Aquarium and the Tampa Bay region as a premier destination for immersive, world-class attractions. Selected by a panel of travel experts and voted on by...
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January 9, 2026
The Florida Aquarium Honored as Lightning Community Hero for Sea Turtle Conservation Program
The Florida Aquarium was named a Lightning Community Hero during this week’s Tampa Bay Lightning home game, recognizing the Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Conservation Program and its decades-long commitment to marine conservation, rescue, and public education. The honor, presented by the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation, includes a $50,000 grant designated to support the Aquarium’s sea turtle...
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January 8, 2026
Major Coral Restoration Milestone as 9,000 Coral Babies are Transferred to Reef Restoration Partners Across Florida
Florida’s investment in coral reef restoration reached a major milestone as The Florida Aquarium successfully transferred 9,000 juvenile corals to restoration partners Reef Renewal USA and The Reef Institute. This marks one of the largest statewide deployments of land-grown coral babies under the Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery (FCR3) Initiative. The corals—born and raised...
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