Georgia Aquarium Georgia Aquarium News

It looks like Tiger Shark may well be included, which would be another good reason to go to Georgia Aquarium. Hammerhead could be Great, bit hard to tell I think.
 
I haven’t seen a planned date for the new section’s opening, does anyone know what it is?
 
Agreed, based on the shape of the dorsal fin. I'd be surprised if they did both species, although scalloped hammerheads would probably integrate easily into Ocean Voyageur
 
jpc323 said:
Agreed, based on the shape of the dorsal fin. I'd be surprised if they did both species, although scalloped hammerheads would probably integrate easily into Ocean Voyageur
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The problem with having hammerhead sharks in Ocean Voyager is that not only will they, they have eaten the stingrays in there.
 
PSO said:
Thanks. White shark was a long shot but I never know with that facility (Ocean Voyager was originally supposed to exhibit N. right whales). Depending how long the shark(s) have been there they look good. I got to see the ones in Camden before they weren't on exhibit. Unfortunately their they were tore up around their rostrums.
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Northern right whales? Seriously? Was that someone's pipe dream? NOAA would never grant approval of such an endangered species. Belugas where barely added due to the cost and difficulty securing individuals.
 
PSO said:
Thanks. White shark was a long shot but I never know with that facility (Ocean Voyager was originally supposed to exhibit N. right whales). Depending how long the shark(s) have been there they look good. I got to see the ones in Camden before they weren't on exhibit. Unfortunately their they were tore up around their rostrums.
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Where did you hear or read the information about the aquarium wanting to exhibit northern right whales, PSO?
 
Through a colleague that worked there from its start until 2011. The story goes Bernie Marcus had a thing for N. Right whales, hence a lot of conservation and education work that GA does with them, and wanted to be the first to house them. In fact the Beluga tank was originally designed to be the predatory shark tank (basically what OV holds now minus the whale sharks and Mantas) and OV was going to have the whales. Logistics (permitting, transportation, husbandry) ultimately were not realistic and around the same time Mr. Marcus went to Japan and saw the whale sharks being kept over there. Being convinced that whale sharks were more probable over right whales, they decided to go that route. Still wanting whales, belugas were acquired for the exhibit they were currently in.
 
PSO said:
Through a colleague that worked there from its start until 2011. The story goes Bernie Marcus had a thing for N. Right whales, hence a lot of conservation and education work that GA does with them, and wanted to be the first to house them. In fact the Beluga tank was originally designed to be the predatory shark tank (basically what OV holds now minus the whale sharks and Mantas) and OV was going to have the whales. Logistics (permitting, transportation, husbandry) ultimately were not realistic and around the same time Mr. Marcus went to Japan and saw the whale sharks being kept over there. Being convinced that whale sharks were more probable over right whales, they decided to go that route. Still wanting whales, belugas were acquired for the exhibit they were currently in.
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Jesus. What a shocking thought. Imagine being so disconnected from reality thinking a right whale could be kept in bowl.
 
Honestly, considering the status of right whales, I get his passion for it. It wasnt an egotistical thing as much as he thought he could do an ex situ conservation project. It was bold, and ultimately didnt happen, but he was willing to his money where his mouth is.
 
That's an interesting story. I do wonder if it would ever be possible to keep a fully grown baleen whale though. Not even in a tank, but it would be interesting if we tried sea pens (although it might not be worth the risk).
 
I figure it would be possible to keep smaller baleen whales in captivity with ridiculously large environments, such as minke whales.
 
Yeah, one of my main issues with possibly keeping baleen whales in captivity is the danger they may face from swimming into the corners of the tank or the glass.
 
Breaching could be an issue too, in tanks surrounded by water. If a whale in a sea pen wants to escape, it will probably try hard. At least they're more durable and slow compared to other creatures, so they're less likely to slam into a wall and injure themselves at the same time.
 
I assume whales would have issues with moving around the tank, so they could get injuries from repeatedly swimming into corners unless a situation is developed, like rounded tanks for requiem sharks.
 
I think you're all looking a bit too deep into what is most definitely a completely bollocks story :p With the Marine Mammal Protection Act alone, importing right whales from the wild was always going to be an impossible task and would never have been taken seriously. Maybe, maybe, it was mentioned once or twice in passing as a cool idea by those unfamiliar with anything to do with cetaceans, but there's no way right whales were ever the plan going into the actual planning and construction of the aquarium.

~Thylo
 
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