Hi! I’m Laurie Macha, Mystic Aquarium’s Curator of
Marine Mammals and Birds. If you have visited us before, you may
have seen me hanging out with some of the animals living at our
outdoor exhibits or in the Foxwoods Marine Theater. And if
you’ve ever had a conversation with me, you’d know that I
believe I have the best job in the world!
There is just so much that I love about what I do
here.
I look forward to my daily rounds where I get to check
in on every seal, sea lion, beluga and penguin in our care. It has
been a true joy checking in on our new Steller sea lions,
mother/daughter duo Eden and Perl
and seeing how effortlessly Natasha, a beautiful beluga whale who
arrived at the Aquarium a week ago, has been acclimating to her
surroundings – accomplishments that would not be possible without
our amazing animal care teams.
Often when I’m doing my rounds, the staff will share
their latest accomplishments in training. Their passion,
dedication and joy is contagious and another reason why I love
leading their efforts. While each day provides them with unique
opportunities, it also entails routine (and often not glamorous!)
responsibilities that they perform with ease and energy. You should
see what a day in the life of a
sea lion trainer is like!
It’s also extremely rewarding for me and our team to
take time out of our busy days to interact with our guests. Whether
it’s during a special pop-up trainer talk or participating in an
event, we love to get involved. The Aquarium is actually
launching new event categories,
each featuring a new twist on the classic events you have come to
know and love throughout the year! We hope you’ll join us during
one of our FIN-tastic Family Events or an Aquarium
After Dark event.
Most importantly, though, I really love Mystic
Aquarium and our commitment to animals, guests, conservation,
education and research. It’s more than just a mission to our teams
– it’s a way of life.
|