Georgia Aquarium greets newest arrivals

[ReefMon]

http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=64055

 

 

Web Editor: Ian Stinson

Last Modified: 6/3/2005 7:07:25 PM

 

Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot and benefactor of the $200 million Georgia Aquarium, announced the arrival of the first whale sharks in a North American aquarium. The only other whale fish in captivity in the world are in Japan, according to Marcus.

 

 

 

 

Nicknamed, Ralph and Norton, the fish arrived in Atlanta in the early morning hours Friday, June 3. Atlanta-based United Parcel Service transported the two males on a 747 during a 36 hour long flight from Taiwan. Two tanks and life support systems were provided for the fish for the duration of the journey.

 

After arriving between 3 and 4 a.m., it took experts several hours to release the sharks into a giant tank so they could get acclimated to their new home.

 

"This is like opening the first Home Depot store," said a smiling Marcus.

 

One fish is 15 feet long, while the second is 13 and half feet long. They could grow as large as 60 feet long. In order to accomodate their size, the aquarium built one of the largest tanks in the world. Experts had to calculate the space the fish would require to make a turn at full speed when fully grown.

 

"We built this aquarium for these whale sharks," said Marcus. "We literally designed this tank before we had the building or anything else."

 

 

 

 

 

Following extensive study that took place over a number of years, the Georgia Aquarium searched in the waters off Taiwan to obtain the two adolescent filter feeding whale sharks.

 

"We're going to study the behavior, how they feed all the things that are necessary for the whale sharks to survive," said Marcus.

 

This whale shark, its behavior and basic biology, is not well known by science. The Georgia Aquarium is partnering with Mote Marine Aquarium in Florida in a long term study of whale sharks.

 

"Our studies will not only make a difference for the wildlife in our care, but also others in the wild," said Jeff Swanagan, Executive Director of the Georgia Acquarium.

 

Bernie Marcus, benefactor of the $200 million Georgia Aquarium, scheduled to open November 23, 2005 said that research and conservation endeavors, such as this for the whale shark, "is exactly in keeping with the mission" his aquarium team considered "when they envisioned the conservation and research programs the aquarium would provide."

 

About the Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium will open in Atlanta, Georgia on November 23, 2005, as one of the world's largest aquarium facilities. With more than 5 million gallons of marine and fresh water, more than 55,000 animals represented from 500 different species, the Georgia Aquarium is a $200 million gift to the people of Georgia from Bernie Marcus, co-founder of the Home Depot, and his wife Billi, through the Marcus Foundation. The Aquarium will be overseen by a nonprofit corporation run by a board of directors.

 

The mission of the Georgia Aquarium is to be an entertaining, educational, and scientific institution featuring exhibitions and programs of the highest standards, offering engaging and entertaining visitors' experiences and promoting the conservation of aquatic biodiversity throughout the world. It is the goal of the Georgia Aquarium to educate audiences of all ages, while promoting a fun and entertaining learning experience that inspires guests to appreciate the world's aquatic biodiversity and to take conservation action. Additional information on the Georgia Aquarium can be found at www.georgiaaquarium.org

 

About the Whale Shark

The whale shark is the world's largest fish reaching lengths up to 45 feet. Despite its large size, the whale shark is harmless to humans. Whale sharks are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. It has a wide mouth with about 3,000 small teeth at the front of its wide, flat head. This large filter feeding shark consumes plankton and small fish as it swims through the water.

 

Until recently, whale sharks were thought to lay eggs. It is now known that they are ovoviviparous, producing litters of more than 300 young that measure only 18 inches in length. Whale sharks are considered solitary creatures that swim slowly at the surface. The whale shark is dark gray or blue gray in color with light yellow or white markings and a white belly.

[Guest ScubaTodd]

Thats pretty interesting, I'd like to see a wide angle of the tank. One of my long time "life goals" has been to swim/scuba with one of these fish.