Texas State Aquarium: New Wildlife Rescue Center open, free to public

John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller Times
·2 min read
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Coinciding with Texas Independence Day, the Texas State Aquarium held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Port of Corpus Christi's new Wildlife Rescue Center on Thursday.

The new 26,000-square-foot building replaced the existing center on Rincon Road and is a collaboration between the aquarium and the port.

The Wildlife Rescue Center is free and allows the public to see what goes on behind the scenes. No admission is necessary to watch the marine wildlife go through its rehab process.

Amy Storbeck, of Corpus Christi, with children Jed, 11, Gwem, 9, back center, Pearl, 8, Conrad, 5, and Max, 11 months old, interact with an x-ray display during the grand opening of the Wildlife Rescue Center at the Texas State Aquarium on March 2, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Amy Storbeck, of Corpus Christi, with children Jed, 11, Gwem, 9, back center, Pearl, 8, Conrad, 5, and Max, 11 months old, interact with an x-ray display during the grand opening of the Wildlife Rescue Center at the Texas State Aquarium on March 2, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Charlie Zahn Jr., chairman of the Port of Corpus Christi and former chairman of the aquarium's board, said the vision of the center is to rehabilitate and return the animals to their natural environment.

"For many years, the Port of Corpus Christi and the Texas State Aquarium have partnered to protect the unique diversity of animal life and seawater habitats that make our region exceptional," Zahn said to attendees.

The facility is the only Texas wildlife rescue enter permitted to treat marine mammals, raptors, shorebirds and sea turtles.

President and CEO of the Texas State Aquarium Jesse Gilbert said the building will not only save wildlife in South Texas, but all along the Gulf Coast and nationwide.

"We'll be able to take care of more than 1,000 animals at one time," Gilbert said to a crowd. "It will be a center that connects all Texans to wildlife."

Inside the new facility, guests are able to view veterinary medical equipment, an interpretive gallery, an emergency operations center and the only CAT scan used specifically for wildlife in Texas.

Amy Storbeck and her five children were on their way to spend their afternoon at the Texas State Aquarium when they saw people walking into a new building.

"It's really something else," Storbeck said as her children were finishing up playing with an interactive X-ray machine. "My kids are having fun so I know we'll be back again."

For more information on the Wildlife Rescue Center, visit texasstateaquarium.org.

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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Texas State Aquarium: New Wildlife Rescue Center open, free to public