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STATE COLLEGE -- Imagine the awe of watching a baby stingray glide gracefully through the water right in front of your eyes. Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania is bringing this exciting opportunity to Central Pennsylvania with a new addition to its Marine Life Center: a baby stingray!
Thanks to a new partnership with Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den in Scranton, Pa., families across the region will soon enjoy a rare opportunity to connect with this fascinating sea creature up close in their own backyard!
The stingray, born at the Electric City Aquarium, will reside at the Marine Life Center for several years until it returns to the aquarium. Visitors will get a unique chance to watch it grow and thrive while they learn about marine life and conservation. This addition builds on the success of the Marine Life Center, which has been inspiring curiosity at Discovery Space since 2019.
"Stingrays are incredible creatures," said Kendra Adkins, Science Educator and Marine Life Coordinator at Discovery Space. "This partnership lets kids and families see hard-to-find marine life in a way that's exciting and accessible, while also prioritizing the welfare of the animals. It's an experience you won't find anywhere else in the region."
While the immediate focus is on establishing the nursery tank and welcoming the first baby stingray, this initiative lays the groundwork for even greater possibilities. With philanthropic support, Discovery Space envisions growing the program to include paid high school internships, offering young aspiring marine biologists equitable access to real-world experience.
In a statement from the Electric City Aquarium, "We're proud to partner with Discovery Space on this initiative. Partnerships like this allow us to further our outreach with organizations that share our educational goals. We are excited to offer kids the opportunity to see a stingray up close in a region of PA where that is not typically possible. And we know the stingray will be in excellent care with Kendra and her team."
Adkins has been working closely with the team at the Electric City Aquarium to learn best practices for stingray care. The partnership will continue as the aquarium team collaborates with Discovery Space, working together to ensure the stingray thrives in its new home.
Discovery Space is working to raise $6,600 to establish a nursery tank and provide top care for its newest marine resident. Contributions will support the tank, equipment, and programs for kids. The stingray's arrival date is still being finalized, so stay tuned -- and let us know if you can help bring this vision to life!
To sign up for updates, watch stingray videos and get involved, visit DiscoverySpace.org/stingray.