SeaWorld Orlando Great whites at Seaworld
- Thread starter Vulpes
- Start date
Several aquariums, closed and still operating, have displayed Great White Sharks but Monterey Bay is the only one that has had anything you could call success with them. Keeping them alive more than two days I understand is easier said than done. As to SeaWorld, I may have read somewhere that the San Diego one did at some point, but it would have been many years ago and as unsuccessful as most other attempts, sadly.
Vulpes
Well-Known Member
interesting! I would be interested to hear more.
All I know is that they had them usually less than 20 days. I believe the one at Steinhart refused to feed and was also bumping into the walls; it was kept in a large tank (demolished) that was a giant thin ring with a current that was viewed from its interior side. There were many species of large pelagic fish in there I think. It may have been an experiment to see if that kind of tank setup - allowing for continuous swimming without turning - was the magic key for exhibiting the species. Apparently not, it was released!
dragon(ele)nerd
Well-Known Member
Jaws would certainly be a great attraction, I'm curious though, where would aquariums/ marine parks get Great whites?
Having them less for 20 days? did this mean they were captured beforehand?
I assume that the aquarium would only keep the species temporarily as Great whites can grow to massive size, correct me if I'm wrong.
Having them less for 20 days? did this mean they were captured beforehand?
I assume that the aquarium would only keep the species temporarily as Great whites can grow to massive size, correct me if I'm wrong.
Californian establishments need to go no further than to their own seas, Great Whites inhabit the Pacific and they love to hang out along the coast of California because of the Sea Lions and Elephant Seals.
They were indeed captured beforehand, they have only been exhibited in singles and very rarely, so they have of course never bred or given birth in captivity. In fact, even if there are many amazing footage of Great Whites in the wild, from South Africa to Australia and other places, their mating has never been filmed as far as I know.
The Georgia Aquarium has succeeded with Whale Sharks, who knows if Great White Sharks will be the next on their list of challenges.
Here is a webpage with a researched history of known captive great white sharks:
White Sharks in Captivity
White Sharks in Captivity
WildEncounters
Member
Orlando? not a chance. Monterey Bay is and should be the only aquarium for great whites, there will never be great whites at Seaworld orlando. Possibility of having them at san diego, that park is right on the sea front, and so is monterey. But they can't keep them all that long until they have to be released, I recomend you watch the documentry Oceans behind glass.
That IS very interesting. I'd always assumed (apparently incorrectly) that they just weren't doing well with the captive situation.
Perhaps this means that it would be possible in the future to successfully house great whites in an enclosure of their own where the well-being of non-conspecific tankmates would not be an issue. I'd have to think it would be something to consider with an animal that would be such a huge draw to the public.
Most of Monterey´s have been released because they had attacked other fish in the tank, started showing much aggression or reached a size where they probably would start to attack the other fish soon. But at least 1 of the 5 they have kept was released because they couldn't get it to eat. Lots of developements in shark keeping in the last 10 years. Monterey is the only aquarium to seriously have tried in this period. I guess other aquariums could replicate it but few have very big warm temperate-subtropical tanks and it would also require a good location (for short transport to the aquarium and easy release later). The large shark tanks in almost all aquariums are for tropical sharks and that is to warm for white sharks. In most countries it is a strictly protected species and most aquariums probably wouldn't be allowed to actively try to catch one for the aquarium either. Monterey do a lot of scientific and environmental work and that makes it easier for them to deal with the autorities but even then most of the white sharks they have kept were accidentally caught by local fishermen (not deliberately caught by people working with Monterey). Florida oceans are mostly to warm for great whites. They are very rare there and mostly over deep water where it is colder. I guess the only places where not very rare and caught with some regularity by mistake by fishermen are California, South Africa, south part of Australia and perhaps northwest Mexico and west South America. I don't know if juveniles are seen in all these places because I have heard they are not seen in all parts of its range. The biggest at Monterey was only 1.76 m long when it was released and to have any chance with an adult would require a HUGE aquarium. There are big and professional aquariums in California, South Africa, south part of Australia that perhaps would have a chance with a juvenile great white if they really wanted (and the authorities allowed it) but I don't think there are aquariums that would have a chance in northwest Mexico and west South America.
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