July 5, 2007

CHILDREN FROM AREA HOSPITALS RELEASE BUTTERFLIES AT AQUARIUM

Vancouver, BC: A few children from area hospitals helped release butterflies today in the Aquarium’s Graham Amazon Gallery.

Showcasing butterflies in the Amazon Gallery began as a test project in 1996 and was such a resounding hit with visitors that it quickly became an annual event. During the course of the summer more than 7,000 butterflies, representing 30 to 50 species, are released into the gallery.

The butterflies come to the Aquarium from environmentally-responsible butterfly farms in Costa Rica. The butterfly farming industry has thrived in that country for 25 years, providing good economic incentives for farmers to preserve the environment—efforts that not only benefit the butterflies but also the many other animals that inhabit the land.

The butterflies will remain in the gallery until the end of September.

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For further information, please contact:

Brenda Jones

Manager, Public Relations

publicrelations@vanaqua.org