Is that a security guard standing there? I read in an issue of International Zoo News (from 2013) about the very small size of the beluga whale tank...is that true?
Is that a security guard standing there? I read in an issue of International Zoo News (from 2013) about the very small size of the beluga whale tank...is that true?
Yes, the security gurd makes sure that visitors standing outside the fence (may be it will make the belugas uncomfortable if visitors standing close to the tank?) and he reminds visitors not to use flash lamp when taking photos.
This tank seems not small to me. May be you can feel from this picture that the water is deep enough that the wall is hidden behind the dark blue. http://www.zoochat.com/1695/beluga-397910/
That is what I've heard from at least 4-5 zoo nerds. The beluga whale tank is supposedly incredibly tiny in comparison to many others of its kind, although most of the rest of the aquarium is supposedly rather impressive.
yes the aquarium overall is brilliant, and as you noted in one of the other photos the visitor areas (for walking) are massive. The beluga tank is a major let-down for the establishment.
Mystic Aquarium, in the state of Connecticut, has 4 beluga whales in a 750,000 gallon pool, while Vancouver Aquarium, in the province of British Columbia, has 2 beluga whales in a 1 million gallon pool. SeaWorld in San Diego has a 600,000 gallon beluga whale tank while the Georgia Aquarium has an 800,000 gallon beluga whale tank. I haven't been able to locate specific information in regards to the size of the tank in this photo but I would hazard a guess that it is smaller than any of the others I listed.
Vancouver Aquarium = 1 million gallons
Georgia Aquarium = 800,000 gallons
Mystic Aquarium = 750,000 gallons
San Diego SeaWorld = 600,000 gallons