July 7, 2011—Long Beach, CA. The Aquarium has welcomed two baby animals. The new Arctic fox siblings are just six weeks old. Visitors have the chance to see the pair of brother pups in the Aquarium’s Molina Animal Care Center.

The new animals are part of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s new Arctic & Antarctic: Our Polar Regions in Peril exhibition, which gives people the opportunity to see polar animals up close while learning about what can be done to protect their habitats.

“Watching the antics of the tiny pups is endearing. We hope these adorable animals win the hearts of our visitors, and inspire them to get involved in reducing the impact of climate change on their Arctic homes,” said Michele Sousa, Aquarium of the Pacific Sr. mammal biologist.

Arctic fox babies are called either pups or kits. The Arctic fox is an incredibly resilient animal that can live in temperatures as low as -59° F and as warm as temperatures we experience in Southern California. It survives in extreme temperatures thanks to its thick fur, furry soles, short ears, and short muzzle.

During the winter months, Arctic fox have white coats that serve as camouflage against the vast stretches of snow and ice. When the seasons change, their coats change to a brown or blue-gray appearance that allows them to blend in with the summer’s landscape. These mammals have keen hearing and normally feed mainly on rodents along with birds, and even fish. When prey is scarce in the winter, these foxes often follow polar bears to eat their leftover scraps. Their average lifespan in the wild is three to six years. As an adult, an Artic fox can weigh up to 17 lbs.

The Aquarium of the Pacific, a nonprofit institution, celebrates our planet’s largest and most diverse body of water: the Pacific Ocean. Home to more than 11,000 animals, the Aquarium explores the waters of Southern California and Baja and the Northern and Tropical Pacific. The Aquarium features hands-on discovery labs staffed by knowledgeable volunteers; the Molina Animal Care Center; the Lorikeet Forest aviary; its interactive Shark Lagoon; the new Ocean Science Center; and the new Arctic & Antarctic: Our Polar Regions in Peril gallery.

A world of discovery awaits people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. The Aquarium is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (except Dec. 25 and during the Grand Prix in April 13-15, 2012).