For the sixth time since 2004, our husbandry team has successfully brought a juvenile great white shark from the wild to temporarily reside in the million-gallon Open Sea exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. He was collected by our team in a purse seine net in waters near Malibu, and arrived at the Aquarium August 31. The young shark, a four-foot, seven-inch male, weighs 43.2 pounds.
As with the white sharks who came before, we hope he’ll be an ambassador for his species while here. We want to encourage more people to learn about the plight of sharks, and be moved to take action to protect them in the wild.
The first white shark was with us for 6 ½ months; the second, for 4 ½ months; the third, for 5 months; the fourth, for 11 days; and the fifth, for over 2 months. All were successfully returned to the wild.
Seen by millions of visitors, these animals have helped us convey their powerful beauty, and educate visitors about the threats they face in the wild. After the first white shark in 2004 drew almost a million visitors, Executive Director Julie Packard called it "the most powerful emissary for ocean conservation in our history."
We'll keep you updated through our Facebook page and this blog, so you can find out how he’s doing. Our number one concern is his health and well-being (and, of course, that of the other animals with whom he will share the water during his stay).You can also check on him yourself when you visit the Aquarium, or on our live HD web cam!
@Jeff - The longest any of the sharks has been with us is 6-1/2 months. How long this one stays depends on whether he continues to feed well, navigate well and get along with the other animals in the Open Sea exhibit.
If all those factors are fine, our Husbandry staff would make a decision on release based on their ability to safely return the shark to the wild -- safely for the shark, and for the people that will handle him during the release process.
Posted by: Ken Peterson | October 04, 2011 at 03:52 PM
When will the shark be released?
Posted by: Jeff Blundell | October 04, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Andrea, according to our vet, Dr. Mike Murray, the shark is healing well, swimming well and feeding well. He's not developing new abrasions. You can keep an eye on him via our HD streaming webcam, or take a closer look when you visit.
Posted by: Ken Peterson | September 20, 2011 at 11:21 AM
Ken,
how is this gw's nose healing according to the vet?
Andrea LeGault
Posted by: Andrea LeGault | September 19, 2011 at 02:09 PM
Thanks for sharing aquarium information.
Posted by: david | September 04, 2011 at 08:15 PM
gotta love it!
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1502395907 | September 01, 2011 at 11:42 AM