The Georgia Aquarium opens on Wednesday, and there’s a lot of buzz surrounding the aquarium’s two whale sharks, the only two such creatures in captivity outside Bernie Marcus – the founder of Home Depot, and the cash behind the facility – is already on the hunt for a female whale shark to jump start a breeding program. Moreover, aquarium officials have already devised a plan for how to deal with the estimated 300 pups that a female whale shark would likely deliver.
2. To Bob: The tank is indeed not the ocean, but it is 6.2 million gallons. The dimensions are apporximately 263' x 162' and 33' deep. The sharks appear to be doing quite well. They are eating well and appear quite relaxed. If you happen to be in Atlanta, the aquarium is worth a visit.
Posted at 9:30AM on Dec 12th 2005 by Doug
3. Hello!!! Well, there's an interesting point of discussion...! Will Atlanta's whale sharks actually breed successfully? Is the tank large enough for at least three adults and those 300 babies? Does the aquarium have suficient structures or speciallized staff for that huge operation? Indeed, those are all legitimate questions for us to make, but, in my opinion, we shall not underestimate the Georgia Aquarium's staff. After all, bringing two whale sharks from as far as Taiwan, in an operation that ran through 62 continuous hours, to Atlanta was already incredible! That operation proved the capability and professionalism of the aquarium's staff. And if we look at these two amazing animals, gliding through those not less amazing 6.2 million gallons of water, feeding without any problem and revealling complete adaptability to their humanmade ocean, the sensation that any achievement, like reproduction, with these creatures can be possible it starts to become clear. We shall not forget that in a lot smaller tanks in Japan (Okinawa and Osaka Aquariums, for example), whale sharks have been kept for long periods successfully, although without breed. The tank in Atlanta is the largest ever built in the world, so lets just wait to see if the aquarium's staff is or isn't ready for whale shark breeding?! Time will answer...
Posted at 8:13PM on Dec 13th 2005 by Filipe Pereira
4. I DON'T KNOW ALOT ABOUT WHALE SHARKS, BUT BEING THAT THEY ARE MAMMALS, IT SEEMS THAT 300 PUPS IS ALOT...DO THEY REALLY PRODUCE SUCH A LARGE QUANTITY OF OFFSPRING? HOW MUCH DOES EACH PUP WEIGH AT BIRTH? WHAT IS THEIR MORTALITY RATE IN THE WILD?
Posted at 9:31PM on Dec 14th 2005 by VINNY
5. Let's clear up one thing, whales sharks are not mammals. They are fish with gills and do not breath air. The name comes from the fact that they are so large as adults(40-60ft). The sharks at the Georgia Aquarium are about 18ft at this time. As for the pups, I have read that the pups are about one to two feet long at birth though I have not seen weights. The mortality of the pups in the wild is not known. That is one of the mysteries that further study may shed light on.
Posted at 9:37AM on Dec 15th 2005 by Doug
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1. wow, 300 is quite a lot of pups. I think this breeding program is an excellent idea, but, something the size of a whale doesn't seem like it would feel too at home in captivity. maybe it's just me, but these things have got to be massive. do they really have the room for this? I suppose its better than having someone eat them though... really.
Posted at 11:14PM on Dec 7th 2005 by bob