Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

Date opened	2000
Location	Las Vegas, Nevada, Nevada, United States
Coordinates	36.0903327°N 115.1765442°W / 36.0903327; -115.1765442
Memberships	AZA
Website	www.sharkreef.com

The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is a public aquarium located at and owned by the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its main tank is 1,300,000 US gallons (4,900,000 l; 1,100,000 imp gal), the third largest in North America. The facility is 95,000 sq ft (8,800 m²), and displays numerous different species of sharks, rays, fish, reptiles, and marine invertebrates. It also features a shark tunnel.

The Shark Reef Aquarium is the only Nevada institution accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. While most aquariums are located close to the ocean, the Shark Reef is exceptional in that it is located in a desert, far from any natural water source. The reef was developed in consultation with the Vancouver Aquarium.

History

The exhibits opened in 2000. In 2007, it underwent a re-branding campaign adding "Aquarium" to the official name. Shark Reef Aquarium officials stated that the re-branding is intended to present the actual nature of the habitat, as members of the public sometimes confused Shark Reef as a name for a bar, lounge, restaurant, etc.^{[citation needed]}

Great Hammerhead Shark

Shark Reef Aquarium was the first closed-system aquarium in North America to exhibit a great hammerhead shark. The female juvenile was less than four feet long when she was accidentally caught off the coast of Florida. The shark was successfully flown into Mandalay Bay in August 2001 on a record 16-hour flight in a special transportation tank designed specifically for it. It remained in a private quarantine tank for 2.5 years until the in-house aquarium husbandry team decided it had grown large enough where it would not fall prey to the other sharks in the exhibit tank. It measured six feet long when it was finally introduced among big public fanfare into the 1.3 million gallon tank on November 3, 2003 for public exhibition. After more than a year on exhibit, the specimen died suddenly and unexpectedly on December 16, 2004. A necropsy later attributed an intestinal infection as the cause of death. The specimen had grown to 6.5 ft (2.0 m) and weighed in at 95 lb (43 kg) at time of death.

Devil's Hole pupfish

In May 2005, two adult male Devil's Hole pupfish were moved from Devils Hole and two adult females were moved from a refuge at Hoover Dam to the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay in hopes of augmenting the population.

Komodo Dragon

On June 20, 2008, Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay received a new Komodo dragon from the Miami MetroZoo. He is currently at the Jungle Temple exhibit at the Aquarium. One of the conditions for Shark Reef to kept the Komodo Dragon in captivity as a threathened species is being part of the Breeding Program. [13 april 2011] This Komodo Dragon has already reached a middle age. Speaking with an employee it turns out that this Komodo Dragn is 6 years (April 2011), with a life expectation of 12. Unfortunately there is nothing know at this moment of the breeding program and if there is any female available for him to breed with.

Shark Ray

On Shark Reef's 10th birthday, they placed a Bowmouth guitarfish on exhibit, the new resident.

Other Animals

After the 10th birthday, they added a Burmese Python and 2 Green Anoles in the Jungle Temple.

Exhibits

Jungle: Do not be fooled by a golden crocodile, watch out for the Komodo Dragon, look out for pythons and discover a predatory Amazon aquarium.

Temple: Look out for various fish, rays and an octopus, beware of the horseshoe crabs. You can touch the horseshoe crabs, with your fingers in the tide pool.

Shipwreck: Beware of the sharks, the sawfish and the barracudas, look out for the treasure chest. Exit your way through the gift shop!

External links

• Official website
• Las Vegas Animal Exhibits
• USAToday Travel page on the Shark Reef