The New York Aquarium was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy last year—the 14-acre facility was completely flooded—but now, the Wildlife Conservation Society says the aquarium will be partially reopened in late spring.

According to a WCS statement, "The partial reopening will include Glover’s Reef; exhibits in Main Hall (Coral Triangle of Fiji, Great Lakes of East Africa, and the Flooded Forests of the Amazon); outdoor spaces of Sea Cliffs (walrus, sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters and penguins); and a fully re-modeled Aquatheater with a new sea lion demonstration." The damage hit buildings and infrastructure, like heating, air conditioning, electrical power and aquatic life support systems. Luckily, the WCS says, "Losses in the collection were minimal and limited to fish and invertebrates housed in a few tanks." (Mitik, the baby walrus, was fine.)

WCS President and CEO Cristián Samper said, "The New York Aquarium has been an important part of the economic, cultural, educational and scientific community of Brooklyn since 1957. We know all efforts to reopen the New York Aquarium are vital to the rebirth of Coney Island. This partial reopening will ensure that the aquarium can help all of New York City experience a strong comeback from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy." Here's video of what the public will be able to see:

The cost of rebuilding/fixing the aquarium is about $65 million, and the WCS is still planning to expand with "Ocean Wonders: Sharks!" Samper added, "We have been encouraged by the support from our city, state, and federal officials to secure the funds necessary for the reconstruction. We thank Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Councilman Domenic Recchia, and the entire New York Congressional delegation for working toward the reconstruction of the New York Aquarium, which attracts more than 750,000 visitors annually to Brooklyn. We are also seeking strong support from private donors to help ensure that together we rebuild the great aquarium experience that New York City deserves."

Mayor Bloomberg said, "WCS’s New York Aquarium is important to the recovery of Coney Island. The partial reopening is a milestone for the community as it recovers from Hurricane Sandy. The city looks forward to working with WCS to ensure a fully reconstructed and reopened aquarium."