UnderWater World, Queensland
 Entrance to UnderWater World |
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| Location | Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia |
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| Coordinates | 26°40′58.25″S 153°07′16.6″E / 26.6828472°S 153.121278°ECoordinates: 26°40′58.25″S 153°07′16.6″E / 26.6828472°S 153.121278°E |
| Volume of largest tank | 2,500,000 l (660,000 USgal)[1] |
| Memberships | ZAA[2] |
| Website | www.underwaterworld.com.au |
UnderWater World at Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia is a marine mammal park, oceanarium and wildlife sanctuary. Underwater World is an institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA).
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[edit] History
UnderWater World officially opened in 1989.[3]
Several scenes in the Jackie Chan 1996 film Police Story 4: First Strike were shot in the park,[4] including a scene in the main aquarium. In one of the scenes a tourist family is visible in the reflection on one of the tanks.
During the Christmas period of 2006 UnderWater World had a Giant Squid preserved in a block of ice on display.[5]
[edit] Exhibits
- Sharks Alive
A moving walkway in a 80-metre (260 ft) shark tunnel under the 2,500,000-litre (660,000 USgal) oceanarium takes visitors past several viewing windows, with fish swimming all around the walkway. The exhibit includes three separate habitats: coral reef, cave and open ocean. Its residents include rays, moray eels, grey nurse sharks, sandbar whalers, whitetip reef sharks, and zebra sharks.[1]
In November 2011, the shark tank and moving walkway were closed for an upgrade [6] which will result in a brand new “state-of-the-art exhibit” Tim Stonhill, General Manager of UnderWater World said.[7]
- Seal Island
There are seven seals at UnderWater World, one New Zealand fur seal, two Australian fur seals and four Australian sea lions which make up part of the Seal Island Exhibit. [8]
- Crawly Creatures
This exhibit is an interactive journey from land to deep sea. It features the world’s largest marine, land and migratory crab species. Species of crabs in the exhibit include giant Japanese spider crabs, robber crabs (also known as coconut crabs) and Christmas Island red and blue crabs.[9]
- Other exhibits
UnderWater World is also home to a fresh water Crocodile.
[edit] Shows and talks
UnderWater World presents seal shows and wildlife information talks, and has hands-on marine displays. Shows at the park include:
- Seal Shows in the Seal Cove
- Otter Shows
- Stingray Reef talks
- Shark guided tours
[edit] Conservation
UnderWater World is a rehabilitation centre for turtles, dugongs, dolphins and seals.
[edit] UnderWater World Gallery
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View from the moving walkway at UnderWater World
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One of the fish at UnderWater World
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Stingray overhead at UnderWater World
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Coral reef zone at UnderWater World
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Otter sculpture at UnderWater World
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Otters at lunch at UnderWater World
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Otters at UnderWater World
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Sharks Alive". underwaterworld.com.au. UnderWater World. http://www.underwaterworld.com.au/ExploreTheAquarium/OceanOdyssey. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
- ^ "Zoo and Aquarium Association Institutional Members' Directory". zooaquarium.org.au. ZAA. http://www.zooaquarium.org.au/Association-Institutional-Members/default.aspx. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
- ^ "Turtles in Trouble". underwaterworld.com.au. UnderWater World. http://www.underwaterworld.com.au/conservation/TurtlesInTrouble. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ "Jackie Chan's First Strike". imdb.com. The Internet Movie database. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116704/locations. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
- ^ "Frozen Giant Squid on display in Australia". tonmo.com.au. TONMO: The Octopus News Magazine Online.. http://www.tonmo.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-8284.html. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ "Shark Tank closed during peak season". sunshinecoastdaily.com.au. Sunshine Coast Daily. http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/11/27/shark-tank-closed-during-peak-season/. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ "Exciting new Shark Tunnel Upgrade". underwaterworld.com.au. UnderWater World. http://www.underwaterworld.com.au/News/UnderWater-World-announces-development-of-state-of. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ "Visitor's guide to UnderWater World". sunshinecoastdaily.com.au. Sunshine Coast Daily. http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/07/26/underwater-world-visitor-guide-mooloolaba/. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ "Crawly Creatures". underwaterworld.com.au. UnderWater World. http://www.underwaterworld.com.au/ExploreTheAquarium/CrawlyCreatures. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
[edit] External links
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