Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo
Situated in picturesque Flatts Village, the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo is the island's most popular tourist attraction. Founded in 1926 the complex has 3 attractions; the aquarium, the museum and a zoo. The whole facility is run by the Bermuda Government but also supported by the Bermuda Zoological Society and Friends of the Bermuda Aquarium.
A good idea is to time your visit to coincide with the free daily guided tour (13.10: daily Apr - Sep, Sat & Sun Oct - Mar). The BAMZ also offers a Curator’s Tour. Light snacks can be bought at the Peacocks’ Pantry (10:00 – 16:00) but for something more substantial try Rustico in Flatts Village. There is ample parking opposite the main entrance and the whole facility is wheelchair accessible.
Aquarium
The aquarium is the flagship of the 3 attractions at the BAMZ. Begin your visit by collecting a ‘Soundstik’ at the entrance. It plays appropriate recorded commentaries as you explore the many tanks depicting Bermuda’s underwater ecosystem.
There are over 100 species of native fish and invertebrates on display including parrotfish, triggerfish and moray eels. The signature exhibit is undoubtedly the 145,000 gallon North Rock Exhibit; a living replica of one of Bermuda’s spectacular coral reefs. It’s one of the largest live coral collections in the world and is home to a variety of marine life including barracuda and shark. You can even stick your head in a giant Plexiglas bubble and experience the sensation of diving in a coral cave.
There is an outdoor pool housing harbour seals. Feeding times at 09:00, 13:30 and 16:00 are followed by a brief presentation about the marine mammals.
The BAMZ has some green turtles housed in an outdoor pool and visible from outside the entrance. In 2000, one of them, appropriately named Dick, had to be separated from the rest after damaging his private parts during a particularly rampant stage in his life. Excellent work!
Museum
The natural history museum has recently undergone a major facelift. It was previously a bit of a let down after the aquarium but is now a much more interesting feature. The museum is split into two sections:
The first explores the natural history of Bermuda before the first human settlers arrived. It explores its volcanic origins and the various natural habitats (rocky shore, beach, fresh water pond and forest) found in Bermuda. A rather funky multimedia presentation is beamed onto round table and shows the creation of the island. There is also a ‘peeping cave’ where visitors can learn about the island’s cave formations and the creatures that dwell within them.
The second section illustrates the impact that humans, and the species of wildlife we introduced, have had on Bermuda’s ecology; the way we have changed it and how we are now trying to conserve it.
Zoo
Though not exactly one of the world’s largest zoos, it does nevertheless contain some interesting exhibits:
Islands of the Caribbean
Opened in 2002, this is the zoo’s latest exhibit. It aims to show how wildlife has migrated from the Caribbean and South America to Bermuda. The exhibit consists of a wire mesh cage measuring 27 feet in height and 6,400 square feet in area. A walkway leads through the cage and allows visitors to interact as closely as possible with the creatures inside. They include the scarlet ibis, rosette spoonbill, Cayman blue iguana, Brazilian acouchi and golden lion tamarin.
Islands of Australasia
At this exhibit, constructed in 1997, you will come up close and personal with many endemic Australasian and Asian species. These include wallabies, tree kangaroos, bats and tree shrews.
Local Tails and Discovery Room
Kids love it here and are offered the chance to interact with nature. There’s a touch pool with molluscs, sponges and small lobsters, a table-top tank full of corals and juvenile fish, a glass-enclosed bee hive plus plenty of other interactive features. On Fridays (11:15 – 11:45) it’s story time for children aged 2 – 4. Activities include stories, songs and guest appearances by animals. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
A reptile exhibit features Oscar the alligator. A member of staff assured us he was alive but we saw no signs of movement. There are also several Galapagos tortoises and Haitian slider turtles. An aviary houses birds from South America such as macaws and parrots.
The BAMZ is also home to a large flock of Caribbean flamingos. One of them escaped in 1987 during Hurricane Emily, lived at Spittal Pond Nature Reserve until being recaptured in 2001, before going on the run again during Hurricane Fabian in 2003. The BAMZ also has a coastal walkway with spectacular views of Harrington Sound.
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