By:

Katja Laingui

Katja is the Education Operations Manager at the Aquarium Foundation. She gives support to the education team and the Foundation staff as a whole, with her attention to detail and project management skills. She also has a degree in sustainable development and one of her interests involves how to make people more interested in nature and the ecosystem services that we depend on. She is the author of the regular 'K's Kreature Feature' blog.

The Two Oceans Aquarium is a special place. Unique and amazing with what it has to offer. Our team at the Aquarium Foundation are so lucky and happy that we get to call the Aquarium our home. Without it, we would not exist and be able to do the work we do. We are a young organisation, founded from the 25-year long legacy that the Aquarium built, to educate people about the ocean and its inhabitants. We continue the successful turtle rehabilitation programme that the Aquarium initiated, and could not do any of it without having the space for our rehabilitation facility. Our Wildlife Management Programme, in collaboration with the V&A Waterfront, is another initiative that originated from the Aquarium. It has a long history of innovation, and compassion for the animals that call the V&A Waterfront precinct their home. We are proud to continue this programme, for the welfare of these animals. Most importantly, the education and awareness programmes, that have impacted more than one million children over the past 25 years, is the essence of what the Foundation is about. We carry forward, and aim to grow these programmes, which the Aquarium wholeheartedly supported and nurtured. It is this focus on ocean education that makes the Two Oceans Aquarium truly special. Only through education should a facility exist, which holds animals in captivity. And the Aquarium has shown that meaningful and impactful education can be offered by showcasing ambassador species and giving visitors a glimpse into an underwater world, which for most is not accessible. Making marine environments, and in turn marine education, accessible to all has been the mission of the Aquarium for the past 25 years. We are grateful and honoured to be able to continue this legacy and reach even more people. Thank you Two Oceans Aquarium! Here is to another amazing 25 years of collaboration and team work to save the ocean and the amazing animals within, through conservation, awareness, research and education.

Since all of our staff used to work at the Two Oceans Aquarium, some for more than 20 years, who better to reflect on what the Aquarium means to them. For all of us, the Aquarium is a second home and we have experienced major life events while working here. Some of our own children have grown up, or are growing up, at the Aquarium and experiencing the beautiful exhibits and animals first hand. Our colleagues have become our second family and we appreciate the hard work that goes into making the Aquarium the world-class facility that it is.