Living Planet Inc

WE INSPIRE PEOPLE TO EXPLORE, DISCOVER AND LEARN ABOUT EARTH'S DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS.

AQUARIUM PROGRAM THE AQUARIUM CONSISTS OF SIX PRIMARY EXHIBIT AREAS CENTERED AROUND UNIQUE GEOGRAPHIC ECOSYSTEMS FOUND ON EARTH. EXHIBITS INCLUDE OCEAN EXPLORER, EXPEDITION ASIA, PENGUIN RESEARCH STATION, DISCOVER UTAH, JOURNEY TO SOUTH AMERICA, AND DEEP SEA LAB. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL OUTDOOR INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS ON THE PLAZA, INCLUDING THE WATER CYCLE INTERACTIVE AND CORAL PLAYGROUND. IN 2021, WE WERE COMING OUT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WITH FLUCTUATING DEMAND DUE TO CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS AND GUIDANCE FROM THE SALT LAKE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO END THE YEAR STRONG, BREAKING RECORDS IN AQUARIUM OPERATIONS REVENUE AND A STRONG RESURGENCE OF GUESTS - DOWN ONLY THREE PERCENT COMPARED TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. IN 2021, SEVERAL EXHIBITS THROUGHOUT THE AQUARIUM WERE UPDATED, ALLOWING OUR ANIMALS A MORE COMFORTABLE AND NATURAL HABITAT. WE ALSO WELCOMED BAY SEA NETTLES, A FIRST FOR THE AQUARIUM. THERE WERE SEVERAL HORTICULTURE IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO JOURNEY TO SOUTH AMERICA AS THE COLLECTION IS SLOWLY MOVED TO STRICTLY SOUTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANTS. ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE WAS ADDED, WHICH HELPED THE AQUARIUM ATTAIN LEVEL II ARBORETUM STATUS. SEVERAL IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO EXHIBIT LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THEY OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY. IN JULY 2021, THE AQUARIUM ALSO WELCOMED OUR FIRST ON-SITE VETERINARIAN. THIS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVES THE ROUTINE MEDICAL CARE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOR OUR ANIMALS. THIS INCLUDES SEVERAL UPGRADES TO THE "MEDICAL LAB" SPACE, WITH NEW EQUIPMENT TURNING THE ROOM INTO A FULLY FUNCTIONAL VETERINARY EXAM ROOM AND DIAGNOSTIC LAB. THE AQUARIUM CONTINUES ITS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT OF CORAL RESCUE. AS OF MAY 2021, MORE THAN 100 CORALS, MOSTLY STAGHORN CORAL, HAVE BEEN OUTPLANTED BACK TO THE REEF IN BOHOL, AND THESE CORALS ARE THRIVING AND SHOWING SIGNIFICANT GROWTH AND RESILIENCE. LOCALLY, THE AQUARIUM IS INVOLVED IN THE BOREAL TOAD PROJECT - A SPECIES OF CONCERN IN UTAH. WE SUCCESSFULLY RAISED SEVEN TOADS TO MATURITY AND RELEASED THEM ON THE PAUNSAUGUNT PLATEAU ON JULY 8. THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN (SSP), WHICH PROVIDES A NETWORK OF SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER TO PRESERVE THE GENETIC DIVERSITY AND POPULATION OF SEVERAL SPECIES.

EDUCATION PROGRAM DURING 2021, THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN SEEING A RESUMPTION OF SCHOOL VISITORS DUE TO THE EASING OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS. APPROXIMATELY 16,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS VISITED THE AQUARIUM AS PART OF A SCHOOL FIELD TRIP. THIS INCLUDED THE CONTINUATION OF OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDED EDUCATORS VISITING NEARLY EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF UTAH. OUTREACH VISITS ARE STRUCTURED FOR CLASSROOM LEVEL PROGRAMS FOR GRADES 2, 4, AND 6. IN 2021, OVER 51,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN 707 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE RECEIVED CLASSROOM-BASED, BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL, INSTRUCTION AT THEIR SCHOOL AT NO COST. THE EDUCATION TEAM ALSO ROLLED OUT NEW AND REVAMPED ECOVENTURE CLASSES. THESE ENSURE EACH GRADE PREK THROUGH 12TH- GRADE IS OFFERED AT LEAST ONE UTAH STATE SCIENCE SEED STANDARD CLASS DURING THEIR FIELD TRIP.