What a busy year it’s been at the Two Oceans Aquarium! We launched our new website, lost our beloved Olive and did lots of conservation work along the way … Here’s a roundup of some of the most-read blog posts on our website this year.

Breaking news!

The world’s imagination was captured during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ when oracle Paul predicted the outcomes of tournament games. Our very own common octopus, Jabulani AKA Houdini, made the same predictions in full view of the world’s media. Coincidence or true soothsaying? The jury is still out on that one.

Spooky sea fun at the Aquarium

In October, we hosted the first-ever aSCAREium and it was a roaring success. Children and their parents attended in their droves and dressed the part. On the night, the Aquarium was a dimly lit paradise of fun and education.

Folk legend sings for our seals

Peter Sarstedt performed to a riveted crowd in front of the I&J Predator Exhibit in September, all in aid of the new SAPPI Seal Platform – a platform that staff at the Aquarium had been dreaming of for a long time. Thanks to Peter’s performance, as well as the support of founding-partner SAPPI, injured Cape fur seals in the V&A harbour now have a fighting chance.

Click here for pictures of the new SAPPI Seal Platform.

New faces

Some of the exhibits introduced at the Aquarium this year include a mesmerising sardine bait ball, art-from-plastic dragons in Plastikos and, most recently, giant snails and brown housesnakes in the Creepy Crawly Exhibit. 

Our giant spider crab moults

Remember this story? We reported on the moulting giant spider crab via Twitter and our blog. It was a first for the Aquarium and an event that intrigued even our most-seasoned aquarists.

Ambassador Ayoba arrives, Wasabi departs

Zuki, our African penguin ambassador, was joined by baby Ayobain the Sappi River Meander this year. Together, they will raise awareness about the plight of the African penguin.

Wasabi, our beloved green sea turtle, who had become a favourite member of the I&J Predator Exhibit crew, was relocated to Durban’s uShaka Marine World in July. Wasabi was moved to warmer climates because she was suffering from chronic arthritis in her right flipper.

Baby loggerhead turtles are released back into the wild

Nineteen juvenile loggerhead turtles took to the skies on Wednesday, 27 October, courtesy of our official animal carrier, 1time Airline. They were then released into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, in a collaborative effort between the Aquarium and Durban’s uShaka Marine World.

Making waves in the world of aquatic animal health

The United Nations declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity, celebrating life and our amazing biodiversity and its relevance and importance too. It is therefore fitting that four species – new to science – were discovered right here at Two Oceans Aquarium and the findings published in 2010.

Terminator and Silver become celebrities

Our mascots, Terminator the Seal and Silver the Shark, were very busy this year. From touring Cape Town during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ to starring in an adidas advert and surprising children at their school, you can bet that where there is fun being had, Terminator and Silver are not far behind …