The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium are gifting valentines to animals this Friday. The River of Love's donations will provide enrichment activities to the North American River Otters, Golden Eye Ducks, Giant Pacific Octopus, and Cownose Rays.
The aquarium’s marketing and communication director Emily Adlfinger says the valentines are tailored to each animal. “Thinking of something to provide the octopus, perhaps is it a box of chocolates, but it's more of a box of shrimp, something she would enjoy but something she has to open. So, the goal of that enrichment is to provide especially that cognitive stimulation but also a nutritious opportunity for them, as well.”
The annual fundraiser started in 2023, with Toad-ally in Love, supporting the endangered Wyoming Toad. The campaign went viral on social media, raising over four thousand dollars from online and onsite donations. The funds helped transport the Wyoming Toads back to their natural habitat.
To send valentines, guests can purchase one for the animal of their choice until Friday, February 14th online and at the ticket office.
The aquarium hopes to fulfill 214 valentines.
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