Thursday 15th │ 1pm
An inspiring story of recovery and vision has come to NWA as a brand-new aquarium! Wes Haws, the owner of Blue Zoo, worked in Ethiopia on a global project to build dome homes. One morning while plotting boundaries for a nearby field, he felt an explosive pain in his skull. A young villager had attacked Wes with an axe as he worked. Two Ethiopian workers saw the incident and retrieved Wes, returning him to his community, where his wife and neighbors rallied to save his life. The closest hospital required plane transportation – a two-hour wait. The others did their best to staunch the bleeding but prepared for the worst as Wes’s blood pressure dropped dangerously low. After hours in flight to the hospital, Wes somehow survived his massive injury. While recovering, an aquarium in his room comforted him. He spent time learning about di erent fish species and creating coral reefs to occupy his time during the long rehabilitation process. The incident left Wes blind in one eye, but his appreciation for aquatic life became a goal he wanted to pass on to others. Wes hopes Blue Zoo will inspire, educate and provide access to sea life while teaching future generations about the importance of marine conservation. Cost for admission is $20pp.
