Calypso First to Enter Blacktip Reef

One of the National Aquarium's most beloved animals, Calypso, a 500-pound, green sea turtle with only three flippers, took the plunge into her new home today in the highly anticipated Blacktip Reef exhibit. Calypso is one of the first animals to make a big splash in the new exhibit, a 260,000-gallon coral reef ecosystem. Over the next several weeks, visitors will be able to watch Blacktip Reef come to life as the Aquarium introduces 1,200 animals from 75 species, including blacktip reef sharks by the end of July. During this time, the education team will also be on-hand, giving presentations on what it takes to bring an exhibit of this magnitude to Baltimore.

The exhibit is the country's largest recreation of an Indo-Pacific reef and is the new centerpiece at National Aquarium. After months of construction, guests are now able to pass through the entire exhibit space and view the new Blue Wonders: Reefs to Rainforests experience, which also includes the Aquarium's iconic bubble tubes.

Throughout Blue Wonders, guests are encouraged to explore their connection to water, starting with a stunning video wall installation created by award-winning photographer/videographer, Bob Talbot, and ending with an interactive word and photo wall. Blue Wonders introduces guests to the brand-new Blacktip Reef exhibit. Guests are able to experience this lively reef from many vantage points, including a new floor-to-ceiling pop-out viewing window that allows you to virtually step inside the exhibit.

About Calypso:

In 2000, Calypso was stranded in Long Island Sound and was rescued by the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation. Weighing just 6 pounds, this small turtle was cold stunned and had an infected left front flipper. The flipper was not treatable and was amputated. She has now called National Aquarium home for more than 11 years!